Says “ MP to bear only transportation costs, not police escort charges”
New Delhi: A Delhi court on Thursday permitted Baramulla Member Parliament (MP), Abdul Rashid Sheikh, also known as Engineer Rashid, to attend the sixth session of the 18th Lok Sabha while remaining in custody.
According to details obtained by the news agency—, the court said that the permission is subject to conditions imposed previously.
Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma clarified that the cost of travel for Rashid would depend on the outcome of an ongoing appeal in the Delhi High Court.
Rashid has been lodged in Tihar jail since 2019 in connection with a terror funding case registered in 2017. He is represented by a team of advocates, including Vikhyat Oberoi, Nishita Gupta, Shivam Prakash, and Ravi Sharma.
On November 7, a division bench of the Delhi High Court delivered a split verdict regarding Rashid’s plea to waive the cost of his security and travel arrangements while attending Parliament. The bench comprised Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Anup Bhambhani. Justice Chaudhary concluded that Rashid does not have any entitlement to attend parliamentary proceedings while in lawful custody.
Justice Bhambhani, in contrast, ruled that Rashid is only required to cover the expenses of transportation from jail to Parliament and back, including the costs of the jail van and escort vehicle.
The police had estimated the total per-day cost for Rashid’s attendance at approximately Rs 1.45 lakh, including charges for accompanying officers.
Justice Bhambhani stated that the state’s demand for Rashid to pay for police personnel accompanying him is not justified.
Rashid was formally charged by a special NIA court in Delhi in March 2022 after the case was lodged in 2017.
Earlier in March 2025, the Delhi High Court allowed him to attend the Lok Sabha during the Budget session, subject to the condition that expenses related to his travel and other arrangements would be borne by him while he remained in state custody.
The court’s decision ensures that Rashid can participate in parliamentary proceedings without being released from custody, while clarifying the financial obligations associated with his attendance.
