Patiala House Court grants custody parole to MP Engineer Rashid to attend Parliament's budget session
The Patiala House Court granted custody parole to Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid, an accused in a 2017 NIA terror case, to attend Parliament’s Budget Session from January 28 to April 2.
The Patiala House Court in Delhi granted custody parole to Baramulla MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh, alias Engineer Rashid Khan, to attend the upcoming budget session in the Parliament. Rashid has been allowed to attend the budget session from January 28 to April 2 whenever the Parliament is in session, news agency ANI reported.
Last week, the court issued a notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on a plea filed by Rashid, seeking interim bail or custody parole to attend the Parliament Budget Session. Prashant Sharma, Special NIA Judge, issued notice to the NIA and sought a reply to the plea. Rashid is currently in judicial custody in a terror funding case.
Advocate Vikhyat Oberoi moved the application as advocate Nishita Gupta appeared for the Baramulla MP during the hearing. Speaking on the parole of Rashid, Advocate Nishita Gupta said, "Rashid Engineer ji's custody parole application was filed and has been allowed by the court. The court has permitted him to attend the entire session... He has been allowed to attend all days of the session, which will run from January 28 to April 2. He will attend under police security as well as Parliament security."
Legal context and political profile
Engineer Rashid was arrested in 2019 in connection with an alleged terror funding case in Jammu and Kashmir. Despite being under trial, he won the 2024 Lok Sabha election from the Baramulla constituency, defeating prominent leaders. The case against him involves charges of criminal conspiracy, sedition, and terrorism under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Rashid has also reported instances of deliberate targeting and humiliation of Kashmiri inmates in Tihar Jail, raising concerns over their safety and treatment.
Parliament's budge session to start on January 28
The upcoming budget session in the Parliament will begin on January 28, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated earlier this month. The budget will be presented on Sunday, February 1. "The Session will commence on 28 January 2026 and continue till 2 April 2026. The first phase concludes on 13 February 2026, with Parliament reassembling on 9 March 2026, a vital step towards meaningful debate and people-centric governance," Rijiju's had said in a social media post.