The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has given its consent to permit independent Lok Sabha MP Rashid Engineer to take oath in Parliament on July 5. According to news agency ANI, the NIA has said that the consent given to the jailed Kashmir leader is subject to certain conditions. As per the conditions, he is not allowed to interact with the media.
The Patiala House Court is to pass an order tomorrow, July 2. Rashid Engineer has sought interim bail or custody parole to take oath as an MP.
Rashid won the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat as an independent candidate in the recently concluded polls. He has been imprisoned in Tihar Jail since 2019.
The anti-terror agency charged him in a terror-funding case, preventing him from taking oath in the 18th Lok Sabha. Despite his detention, Rashid secured a win after he defeated former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah by a margin of over 2 lakh votes.
Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh will pass an order on the matter on Tuesday. The NIA's counsel said Rashid's oath taking should be subject to some conditions like not speaking to the media. He also said Rashid, who is in Tihar Jail, must complete the process within a day. everything within a day.
Rashid who has been arrested in a 2017 Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case, had moved the court seeking interim bail, or custody parole in the alternative, to take oath and perform his parliamentary functions. On June 22, a special court here had adjourned the matter and asked the NIA to file its response.
The agency has been consulting with Parliament and jail authorities on the matter. While Rashid's counsel had cited AAP leader Sanjay Singh being granted custody parole to take oath as a Rajya Sabha MP, the court noted that Rashid's charges were different.
Rashid has been in custody since August 2019 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for his alleged involvement in the terror funding case. His name surfaced during the probe of Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, who was arrested for allegedly financing terrorist groups and separatists in the Kashmir Valley.