The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the court
hearing cases of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to expeditiously
decide the bail plea of jailed J&K MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh alias Engineer
Rashid in a terror funding case.
Justice Vikas Mahajan said, "The ASJ-03,
Patiala House Court is requested to dispose of the bail application of the
petitioner expeditiously." The court was dealing with Rashid's plea
alleging there was no remedy available after the NIA court, dealing with his
bail application, left him in limbo post him becoming member of Parliament
(MP).
Justice Mahajan observed a direction was passed by
the high court on the administrative side clarifying that the NIA court would
continue to hear the case.
In view of the development, Rashid's counsel sought
to withdraw the plea from the high court.
The Baramulla MP is facing trial in a terror funding
case with the allegations that he funded separatists and terror groups in Jammu
and Kashmir.
He was elected from the Baramulla constituency in
the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and has been lodged in Tihar Jail since 2019 after
the NIA arrested him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the 2017
terror-funding case.
As an interim relief, Rashid was earlier allowed a
two-day custody parole to attend the ongoing Parliament session on February 11
and 13.