NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday sought a response from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on a plea by jailed Lok Sabha MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid seeking interim bail to attend the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament.
Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid and in jail in a 2017 terror funding case, has also challenged a trial court order asking him to bear travel expenses of Rs 1.44 lakh per day for attending Parliament in custody from July 24 to August 4.
A bench of Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Shalinder Kaur issued notice to the NIA on the plea and listed the matter for further hearing on July 29.The court is also scheduled to hear on July 29 Rashid’s regular bail plea in the case.
The Baramulla MP has been lodged in Tihar jail since 2019 after he was arrested by the NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the case.
During the brief hearing, Rashid’s counsel submitted that the MP has already been saddled with Rs 17 lakh cost to represent the public at large in Parliament. Rashid sought interim bail or custody parole with travel expenses to carry out his duty as a parliamentarian.
Next hearing scheduled for July 29
A bench of Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Shalinder Kaur issued notice to the National Investigation Agency on Rashid’s plea and listed the matter for further hearing on July 29.