Jammu and Kashmir MP Engineer Abdul Rashid Sheikh, also known as “Engineer Rashid,” has moved the Delhi High Court to challenge a Patiala House Court decision denying him interim bail in a terror-funding case investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Rashid, currently held in Tihar Jail, is seeking temporary release on humanitarian grounds to visit his hospitalized father. The NIA had opposed interim bail citing security concerns but expressed willingness to grant custody parole to the MP.
The plea filed by Engineer Rashid challenges the trial court’s denial of interim relief, prompting him to seek urgent intervention from the Delhi High Court. The NIA, representing the prosecution, argued that Rashid could meet his family members, including his father, while in custody parole, making interim bail unnecessary. Rashid, the sitting MP from Baramulla, faces accusations in a terror funding case and is under judicial custody.
In a previous instance, the Patiala House Court had allowed Rashid custody parole to attend the Budget Session of Parliament, enabling his participation in Lok Sabha proceedings while under custody. The court had specified that the responsibility for travel expenses during his custody parole would be determined based on the outcome of Rashid’s pending appeal before the Delhi High Court. In a separate development, the Delhi High Court had a split decision in January regarding Rashid’s plea to modify the condition requiring him to cover travel and deployment costs during his parliamentary visits.
During the court proceedings, Rashid’s counsel argued that the imposition of daily custodial travel expenses, including police salaries, unfairly restricted an elected MP from fulfilling his constituency duties. The counsel contended that while Rashid was willing to bear reasonable expenses, the inclusion of police salaries exceeded the scope of Delhi Prison Rules. Conversely, the Delhi Police justified the cost calculation, stating that it encompassed deployment charges, logistics, and security arrangements essential for escorting an undertrial MP to Parliament.
