New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday delivered a split verdict on a plea filed by jailed Jammu and Kashmir MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh seeking modification of an order directing him to deposit around ₹4 lakh with jail authorities to attend Parliament while in custody.
Justice Vivek Chaudhary dismissed Rashid’s plea, while Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani allowed it.
“We have not been able to concur with each other. We have given two separate judgments. The matter will now be placed before the Chief Justice for appropriate orders,” the bench said while pronouncing the verdict.
Justice Chaudhary added, “My brother (Justice Bhambhani) has allowed the application, but I have rejected it.”
Rashid’s plea sought modification of the March 25 order issued by a coordinate bench requiring him to deposit ₹4 lakh for attending Parliament sessions while remaining in custody.
The Baramulla MP, who defeated former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, is facing trial in a terror funding case for allegedly providing financial support to separatists and terror outfits in Jammu and Kashmir.
He has been lodged in Tihar Jail since 2019 after being arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a 2017 case. Rashid was granted interim bail for a month in September last year to campaign for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.
According to the NIA, Rashid’s name surfaced during the interrogation of businessman and co-accused Zahoor Watali.
He was chargesheeted in October 2019, and in March 2022, a special NIA court framed charges against him and others under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war against the government), and 124A (sedition) of the IPC, along with provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) related to terror funding and terrorist activities.
