Court Grants Time for NIA to Respond to MP Rashid Engineer’s Bail Request for Oath Ceremony

The Patiala House court in New Delhi has given the National Investigation Agency (NIA) until July 1 to respond to the bail application of Rashid Engineer, the newly elected Member of Parliament (MP) from Baramulla Lok Sabha seat. Rashid, who is currently in custody for a terror funding case, seeks interim bail or custody parole to take his oath in Parliament.

The NIA stated that they are consulting with Parliament and jail authorities regarding Rashid’s request. The court has directed the NIA to file their reply by July 1 and to inform the court about the date on which Rashid can take his oath as an MP.

Rashid’s lawyer, Advocate Vikhyat Oberoi, argued that Rashid won the election with a vast majority and that the people want him to represent them in Parliament. The court has scheduled the next hearing for July 1 at 11 am.

Rashid defeated Omar Abdullah to win the Baramulla seat while in custody. He has been in custody for the last five years in connection with the NIA’s terror funding case. The court is considering his plea for interim bail or custody parole to allow him to take his oath and perform other parliamentary functions.