NIA allows Engineer Rashid take oath as MP, Delhi court to give order tomorrow

Engineer Rashid could not take oath as a member of the 18th Lok Sabha on June 24 despite his name being called as he has been lodged in jail since 2019.

Updated on: Jul 1, 2024, 13:25:28 IST

By HT News Desk

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The National Investigation Agency or NIA gave consent for jailed Kashmiri leader Sheikh Abdul Rashid, known as Engineer Rashid, to take oath as a Lok Sabha member on July 25, ahead of the Delhi court's order on Tuesday. Additional sessions judge Chander Jit Singh will pass an order on the plea on Tuesday.

MP-elect from Kashmir’s Baramulla seat Engineer Rashid (HT File)

Engineer Rashid could not take oath as a member of the 18th Lok Sabha on June 24 despite his name being called as he has been lodged in jail since 2019 after being charged by the NIA in a terror-funding case.

Engineer Rashid defeated former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah to win the Lok Sabha elections from the Baramulla seat as an Independent candidate.

A Delhi court on Saturday asked the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to respond by July 1 to an application filed by Engineer Rashid, seeking interim bail to take oath as an MP.

Additional sessions judge Kiran Gupta fixed the matter for hearing on July 1 and directed the NIA to file its reply by then.

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

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

In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Engineer Rashid ran as an independent candidate for the Baramulla seat and defeated Omar Abdullah. He secured victory with a margin of 2,04,142 votes and received 47,2481 votes.

Radical preacher Amritpal Singh fails to take oath as MP

Another jailed MP-elect Amritpal Singh, a radical preacher, could not take oath as a member of Parliament as he is in jail in Assam, detained under the National Security Act.

Twelve other MP-elects from Punjab were administered oath in Parliament on Tuesday. Punjab has 13 Lok Sabha constituencies.

After the Congress' Gurjeet Singh Aujla took oath in Parliament, Singh's name was called out but he was not present.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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