Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI/ SRINAGAR: A Delhi court granted Saturday interim bail to J&K independent MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid aka Engineer Rashid, allowing him to attend Parliament’s budget session from Jan 28 under armed escort.Held in Tihar jail since 2019, the 58-year-old MP faces charges under UAPA in a 2017 terrorist-funding case probed by NIA. He contested 2024 Lok Sabha polls from jail and stunned mainstream parties by defeating National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah by more than 200,000 votes from Baramulla in north Kashmir.Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma permitted Rashid to attend sittings while remaining in custody, calling relief “limited in nature” and bound by strict conditions earlier imposed, including security arrangements and related expenses. Custody parole allows a prisoner to travel under police escort to a specific destination.Court had earlier granted similar permissions. Rashid attended the winter session last Nov under guard. He was also allowed custody parole between July 24 and Aug 4, 2025, for monsoon session sittings, and interim bail in 2024 to campaign in J&K assembly elections.Awami Itihaad Party, founded by Rashid in 2013 and listed by Election Commission as registered but unrecognised, welcomed the court order. Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi called it vital to ensure people of north Kashmir are not denied representation in Parliament.Nabi said travel expenses would depend on outcome of an appeal pending before high court. The party also renewed demand for Rashid’s release. Nabi said there was no justification to keep a two-time legislator and an elected MP behind bars, alleging victimisation for political beliefs. He cited former CJI DY Chandrachud’s recent remarks that even a few years of detention violate personal liberty.
