Published: July 1, 2024 3:39 PM IST 
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday agreed to jailed Kashmiri leader Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, to take oath as Member of Parliament (MP) from the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat.
Engineer Rashid, who contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from jail and emerged victorious from the Baramulla seat by defeating National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, will likely take oath as MP on July 5 after the NIA on Monday gave its consent before a special court.
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 and must complete the process within a day.
The agency has been consulting with Parliament and jail authorities on the matter.
Engineer Rashid has been lodged in Delhi’s Tihar jail since he was arrested by the NIA in 2019 and charged in a terror funding case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The former MLA had 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 had adjourned the matter and asked the NIA to file its response.
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.
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.
The NIA had earlier filed a chargesheet against several individuals, including Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed, and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin in connection with the case.
(With PTI inputs)
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