Big relief to jailed Kashmiri leader Engineer Rashid, allowed to take oath as MP on July 5

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday granted its consent to jailed Kashmiri leader Sheikh Abdul Rashid, to take oath as MP on July 25. Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jeet Singh will pass order on the plea on Tuesday. The interim bail plea of ​​Rashid, who won the Lok Sabha election from Baramulla constituency in Jammu and Kashmir. Rashid, who has been arrested in the 2017 Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case, had moved the court seeking interim bail or custody parole to take oath and perform his parliamentary work. A special court here had on June 22 adjourned the matter and asked the NIA to file its reply. The NIA counsel said the consent is subject to certain conditions, including not interacting with the media.

Who is Engineer Rashid?

Rashid won the Lok Sabha election as an independent candidate in Baramulla, defeating National Conference leader and former Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah. Rashid was arrested in the Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case. He was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and is currently lodged in Tihar Jail. Rashid's involvement in the case came to light during the investigation of Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, who was arrested by the NIA for allegedly funding terror groups and Kashmiri separatists. The names included by the NIA in its chargesheet include Yasin Malik, Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin.

Terror funding case against Rashid

Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, was arrested in 2016 in a terror funding case. He was detained under the UAPA law. Since then he is lodged in Tihar Jail. Rashid's involvement in this case came to light during the investigation of Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, who was arrested by the NIA on charges of financing terrorist groups and Kashmiri separatists.