MP Baramulla Sheik Ab Rashid gets custody parole to attend Parliament

New Delhi: Sheikh Abdul Rashid a sitting Member Parliament from the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency, has been granted custody parole by a Delhi Court to attend the Monsoon Session of Parliament from July 24 to August 4. However, his request for interim bail was denied.
The Patiala House Court’s ruling allows Rashid to participate in Lok Sabha proceedings under police escort, with the stipulation that he must cover travel-related expenses. The court’s decision followed a plea hearing earlier in the month, where Rashid’s lawyer argued for interim bail to enable his client to represent his constituency. The lawyer also requested custody parole without financial conditions, asserting that Rashid should not bear the travel costs. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) opposed the bail plea, emphasizing that custody parole should only be granted if all associated expenses are met. Rashid has been in judicial custody since 2019 after his arrest by the NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, linked to a 2017 funding network allegedly supporting separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir. His involvement was highlighted during an investigation into businessman Zahoor Watali, who was also arrested. Formal charges against Rashid and others were filed in October 2019, with a special NIA court framing charges in March 2022 related to conspiracy, waging war, and sedition. Despite his incarceration, Rashid, an independent candidate, won the Baramulla seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, defeating National Conference leader Omar Abdullah by a significant margin.