The National Investigation Agency (NIA) gave consent for jailed Kashmiri leader Sheikh Abdul Rashid, known as Engineer Rashid, to take oath as a Lok Sabha member on July 25, ahead of the Delhi court’s order on Tuesday.
The Delhi court will pass an order on the plea on Tuesday. Earlier on Saturday, the court mandated the NIA to respond to Rashid’s application for interim bail to facilitate his oath-taking. The court directed the anti-terror agency to file its reply by July 1.
Rashid has been lodged in the Tihar Jail since August 9, 2019, on charges of terror financing in a case lodged by the NIA. He defeated former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah from the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat with a margin of 2,04,142 votes.
Advocate Vikhyat Oberoi, representing Rashid, argued that his client’s electoral victory signifies the strong democratic mandate given by the people of Baramulla. “He won with a vast majority. People love him and want him to fight for their rights in Parliament democratically,” Oberoi said.
Rashid had moved the court seeking interim bail, or custody parole in the alternative, to take oath and perform his parliamentary functions.
On Monday, the NIA’s counsel said Rashid’s oath-taking be subject to some conditions like not speaking to the media. He also said Rashid must complete everything within a day.
