The Delhi High Court on Tuesday postponed the plea of Baramulla MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh alias Engineer Rashid and listed it for hearing on 31 July. Senior lawyers present for engineer Rashid could not reach the court due to traffic jam due to rain.
Engineer Rashid has sought an interim bail to participate in the Parliament session.
The division bench of Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Shalinder Kaur had to listen to the matter.
Advocate Vikit Oberoi appeared for Rashid and demanded a pass as senior advocate N Hariharan was stuck in traffic jams due to rain. The court allowed the pass.
Senior lawyers could not appear even on the second call. The court asked the lawyer that the application for amending the earlier order is still pending. The latest application has been raised in the issue. We cannot listen to the same issue again.
The petitioner’s counsel presented that alternative interim bail has been sought.
The court said that it was already considered by the previous Division Bench. You should suppress the amendment petition. The lawyer of the accused presented that the first interim bail was argued.
Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra and Special Public Prosecutor Akshai Malik appeared almost for the NIA.
The Delhi High Court on July 25 issued a notice to the NIA on an interim bail argument. He has demanded interim bail to participate in the Parliament session.
On 22 July, the Special NIA court rejected its petition for interim bail. However, he was given the parole of custody.
In Patiala House Court, Special NIA judge gave the parole of custody to Engineer Rashid from 24 July to 4 August.
Whenever the Parliament session occurs, this detention parole was provided for that period. Rashid has to bear the cost and follow other situations.
Now, he has said that detention parole was provided for a limited period. It is presented that if he is not granted interim bail, he may be allowed to detention parole from July 23 to August 21 to attend the monsoon session of Parliament.
He has also sought a direction to separate the order to tolerate expenses for travel and other arrangements.
Rashid is in judicial custody in a terrorist funding case associated with Hafiz Saeed.
Engineer Rashid was suppressed with senior advocate N Hariharan, who was with Aditya Wadhwa, Vikant Oberoi and Nishita Gupta’s advocates.
It was argued before the special court that the trial court granted interim bail on 10.09.2024 for the state election campaign, which was extended three times. Therefore it cannot be considered a security threat.
In addition, the Delhi High Court allowed him to participate in Parliament twice on 10.02.2025 and 25.03.2025, during which he duly participated, presented by the lawyer.
Nia had opposed the petition and presented that the interim should not be provided and if she is being allowed to participate in custody, she should pay the cost of travel.
The counsels for Rashid opposed paying the expenses of any journey, as they are trying to participate in Parliament as their public duty, not for their personal work.
Even on earlier occasions, engineer Rashid was allowed to participate in Parliament sessions and take oath. (AI)