Hearing an interim bail plea of Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid, Delhi’s Patiala House Court on Saturday granted time to file a reply on his application. Additionally, the court listed the case for the reply and hearing on July 1.
Earlier on June 18 also, the court deferred the decision on his bail plea and had asked the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to file a reply stating the date on which Rashid has to take oath.
What happened at the hearing?
During the hearing, the judge observed that the charges levelled against Rashid were on a different footing from those faced by AAP leader Sanjay Singh, an accused in the Delhi excise "scam" money laundering case.
The judge made the observation in response to the submission by Rashid's counsel who told the court that Singh was allowed custody parole to take oath as a Rajya Sabha MP recently.
The judge allowed the NIA's prayer for time to file its reply.
Advocate Vikhyat Oberoi argued for releasing Rashid on bail, asserting, "He is the person who won the election with vast majority. People love him and want him to fight in parliament democratically." "It is my (Rashid's) constitutional duty to take oath. I am compelled to beg before them for taking oath. This is really shameful. The court may direct the jail authorities to contact the Lok Sabha Secretariat, direct NIA to contact the Lok Sabha Secretariat, or direct the Lok Sabha Secretariat to specify the date on which Rashid may take oath," the counsel said.
The newly elected Lok Sabha MPs are scheduled to take oath on June 24, 25 and 26.
Terror funding case against Rashid
Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid was arrested in 2016 in a terror funding case. He was held under the UAPA law. Since then he has been incarcerated in Tihar jail.
Rashid's indulgence in the case came to the fore during the investigation of Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali who was arrested by the NIA in charge of financing terrorist groups and Kashmiri separatists. The names which the NIA included in its chargesheet included Yasin Malik, Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed, and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin.
Engineer Rashid defeated Omar Abdullah
In the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, he contested from the Baramulla seat and registered a dominating victory over former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Rashid, contesting as an Independent, defeated Abdullah by a margin of 2,04,142 votes. While Rashid garnered 4,72,481 votes, Abdullah was polled 2,68,339 votes. Sajjad Gani Lone ended up as second runner-up with 1,73,239 total votes polled. As the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha is scheduled to begin on June 24, the new members will be administered oath by the President. Hence, Rasid too had to come to the parliament to take the oath.
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