NIA gives consent for Kashmiri leader Engineer Rashid’s MP oath

NEW DELHI — The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday gave its consent for jailed Kashmiri leader Sheikh Abdul Rashid, known as Engineer Rashid, to take oath as a Member of Parliament (MP) on July 25. Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh will pass an order on the plea on Tuesday.

Rashid, the MP from Baramulla who was arrested in a 2017 Jammu and Kashmir militancy funding case, had moved the court seeking interim bail, or custody parole in the alternative, to take oath and perform his parliamentary functions.

A special court here on June 22 had adjourned the matter and asked the NIA to file its response.

On Monday, the NIA’s counsel said Rashid’s oath-taking ceremony be subject to some conditions like not speaking to the media. He also said Rashid must complete everything within a day.

Rashid has been in jail since 2019 after he was charged by the NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for his alleged involvement in a militancy funding case. He is currently lodged in Tihar Jail.