The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea filed by jailed Lok Sabha MP from Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla, Sheikh Abdul Rashid alias Engineer Rashid, challenging the framing of charges against him in a terror funding case.
A bench comprising Justices Prathiba M Singh and Madhu Jain held that Rashid’s appeal against the trial court’s order was not maintainable. “The present appeal would not be maintainable and is dismissed,” the bench observed.
Engineer Rashid has been lodged in Tihar Jail since 2019 after being arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with a 2017 terror funding case. The Baramulla MP, who defeated National Conference leader Omar Abdullah in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, is facing trial on allegations of funding separatist elements and terror groups in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the NIA, Rashid’s name surfaced during the interrogation of businessman and co-accused Zahoor Watali. He was chargesheeted in October 2019, following which a special NIA court framed charges against him and other accused in March 2022 under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war against the government) and 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code, along with provisions related to terrorist acts and terror funding under the UAPA.
Meanwhile, a Delhi court has granted custody parole to Rashid to attend the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament, which commenced on Wednesday. Under the custody parole arrangement, he will be escorted by armed police personnel during his visits.
