Jailed separatist Rashid being taken by the police in an old picture (Image Source: One India)
Rashid Sheikh, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, who has been elected as an MP from Kashmir’s Baramulla has approached Delhi’s Patiala House court for interim bail to take oath as the Member of Parliament.
Rashid has been lodged in the Tihar Jail since August 9, 2019, on charges of alleged terror financing in a case lodged by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Engineer Rashid has defeated former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah from the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat with a margin of 2,04,142 votes.
Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh has sought a response from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the case. The matter will be heard today.
His counsel Advocate Vikhyat Oberoi told ANI that an application seeking interim bail and alternative custody parole, to take oath and perform other parliamentary functions was filed on Wednesday.
The matter was taken up by the court and it was listed for June 6 for a reply by NIA, Oberoi said. On Thursday the NIA did not file any reply. So, the court has listed the matter for Friday for NIA to file a reply.
Oberoi has also said that the engineer is a two-time MLA. Now he has to take oath as an MP after winning the election. The date for the oath ceremony is not yet declared.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Engineer Rashid ran as an independent candidate for the Baramulla seat and defeated Omar Abdullah. He secured victory with a margin of 2,04,142 votes and received 47,2481 votes.
Who is Engineer Rashid?
Sheikh Abdul Rashid is the founder of the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party. He served as a two-time MLA from the Langate constituency in the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir, winning elections in 2008 and 2014. Rashid also ran in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections but was defeated, having contested all these polls as an independent candidate.
Known as “Engineer Rashid” since 2008, he transitioned into politics after resigning from his job as a construction engineer, securing his first election victory after a reportedly 17-day campaign. Currently, Engineer Rashid is imprisoned in Delhi’s Tihar Jail on charges of terror funding.
He was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2019, becoming the first recognised leader detained under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. His election campaigns were notably led by his two sons, Asrar Rashid and Abrar Rashid, who expressed confidence in their father’s ability to secure maximum votes based on the strong turnout at his rallies.
(With inputs from ANI)
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