NEW DELHI: Jailed Independent MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh from J&K has approached Delhi high court seeking relief from the requirement to pay Rs 1.45 lakh a day for transportation and security arrangements while attending the ongoing Parliament session in custody.
Also known as Engineer Rashid, he has been imprisoned in Delhi’s Tihar Jail after NIA arrested him under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in 2019 in connection with a 2017 terror-funding case. The two-time MLA contested the 2024 LS elections from prison and won the Baramulla seat in north Kashmir as an Independent, defeating heavyweights Omar Abdullah of National Conference and Sajad Gani Lone of People’s Conference.
His plea in HC, filed Wednesday, challenges the financial burden imposed as a condition of his court-approved attendance in Parliament. Rashid’s counsel argued that the high cost was excessive and beyond his financial means.
“Rashid is going to fulfil his constitutional duties and ought not to be prejudiced with such high costs,” according to the petition.
HC had earlier granted Rashid permission to attend Lok Sabha session in custody until April 4, rejecting NIA’s concerns that he was a flight risk. However, the court mandated that he bear the costs of his transport and security.
On March 26, the order allowing Rashid’s attendance was uploaded to court’s website. Later that evening, Tihar Jail authorities informed his legal team via email that he must pay Rs 1.45 lakh a day, amounting to Rs 8.74 lakh for six days.
The matter was mentioned before a bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela. The plea would be heard on Friday.
Rashid has challenged a March 10 trial court order refusing him custody parole or interim bail to attend Lok Sabha proceedings. In Delhi HC, he withdrew his request for bail and instead sought permission to attend Parliament while remaining in custody.