Court Rejects MP Rashid Engineer's Plea for Custody Parole to Attend Parliament

The Patiala House Court denied Jammu and Kashmir MP Rashid Engineer's request for custody parole to participate in the ongoing Parliament session. Engineer, detained since 2019 on terror funding charges, argued for parole citing his duties as an MP. The NIA opposed, citing potential security risks and prior misconduct.

The Patiala House Court on Monday dismissed the plea of Jammu and Kashmir Member of Parliament Rashid Engineer for custody parole to attend the current session of Parliament. Engineer, representing Baramulla, had requested permission to join the session from March 10 to April 4.

Advocate Vikhyat Oberoi, defending Engineer, contended that his client posed no threat, having previously received parole on several occasions. Despite these assurances, Special Judge (NIA) Chander Jit Singh turned down the request. Oberoi, along with Nishita Gupta, argued that effective security measures would ensure Engineer's safe transit to and from Parliament.

The defense highlighted Engineer's previous custody parole grants, including interim bail for political campaigning, as proof of no security threats. However, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), represented by special counsel Gautam Khazanchi, emphasized the lack of a statutory right for detained individuals to attend Parliament sessions and cited past instances of phone misuse during paroles.

Engineer remains in judicial custody following his 2019 arrest on terror funding charges. His application for regular bail is under consideration by the special NIA court. Despite the rejection, Engineer continues to seek interim bail or custody parole to fulfill his parliamentary duties.