The Delhi High Court on Monday granted two-day custody parole to Baramulla MP and an accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Engineer Rashid, to attend the ongoing Budget Session of the Parliament from February 11 to February 13.
The single-judge Bench of Justice Vikas Mahajan directed Rashid, arrested in a terror-funding case, not to use any phone, mobile or landline, while he was out on custody parole.
He was further barred from accessing the internet, interacting with any person, and addressing the media.
The High Court passed the order on a petition filed by Rashid seeking quick resolution of his pending bail plea before the trial court. He further sought interim bail to attend the ongoing Budget Session of the Parliament.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court, which had heard and reserved its order on his bail plea, had released the matter on the grounds that only a designated MP/MLA Court could hear Rashid’s applicationcase.
Rashid apprised the High Court that this led to confusion on which court would be entitled to hear his bail plea – the NIA court or the MP/MLA court.
The NIA Court refused to hear his bail petition on the grounds that it was not the designated MP/MLA Court, which could hear cases against lawmakers. The verdict left him remediless, said the petitioner.
While seeking clarification from the Supreme Court on which court should hear Rashid’s bail plea, the High Court ordered his limited release on custody parole to attend the Parliament.
The High Court will hear the issue regarding the jurisdiction of an NIA court and an MP/MLA court on February 11.