- विज्ञापन -
Jammu: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is conducting raids at 10 locations in Jammu as part of an ongoing investigation into infiltration cases. Meanwhile, the NIA has filed a response opposing the plea of Baramulla MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh, also known as Engineer Rashid, before the Delhi High Court. The NIA has requested the court to reject his plea, arguing that it is not maintainable.
Engineer Rashid has sought interim bail or custody parole to attend the ongoing Parliament sessions. His plea is scheduled for hearing tomorrow at the High Court. In response, the NIA filed an affidavit following an order from the Division Bench led by Justice Prathiba M Singh on March 12, stating that the plea should be dismissed as it is not maintainable.
The NIA argued that Rashid’s position as a Parliamentarian does not exempt him from judicial custody. The agency emphasized that legislators in lawful detention have no statutory right to participate in Parliament sessions. Furthermore, the NIA contended that Rashid was attempting to use his attendance at Parliament to avoid the consequences of imprisonment after being unsuccessful in securing bail.
The agency expressed concerns about Rashid’s influence as a prominent MP from Baramulla, particularly given that many witnesses in the case are from Jammu and Kashmir. It raised the possibility that Rashid could influence them. The NIA also accused him of forum shopping, a practice it described as an abuse of the court’s process. The Special NIA Court was set to issue its decision on his regular bail on March 19.
The Delhi High Court had issued notice to the NIA on Rashid’s plea on March 12 and asked the agency to file an affidavit if it had objections. Rashid’s previous request for custodial parole was rejected by the Special NIA Court. In February 2025, he was granted a two-day custody parole to attend Parliament. Senior advocate N Hariharan, representing Rashid, argued that his client should be allowed to attend the ongoing sessions.
The NIA opposed the plea, noting that the earlier order granting two days of parole had been made when there was no designated court. Senior advocate Hariharan argued that Rashid represented a significant portion of Kashmir’s population. The NIA’s Special Public Prosecutor, Akshai Malik, requested more time to file a response. The bench questioned whether the petition would still be relevant after the Parliament session ended, suggesting the case could be heard sooner if the parties were ready to argue.
Rashid had approached the Delhi High Court after the Special NIA Court denied his plea for custodial parole. He is accused in a terror case and has sought interim bail or custody parole to attend Parliament sessions from March 10 to April 4.
