The Patiala House Court on Wednesday reserved its order on the plea filed by Baramulla MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh seeking custody parole to attend the upcoming Parliament Session in December. He is currently in custody in a terror case lodged by the NIA.
Special NIA Judge Prashant Sharma reserved the order after hearing the submissions of Sheikh’s counsel and the Special Public Prosecutor for the NIA.
Counsel for the NIA informed the court that the agency has no objection to the accused attending the Parliament Session while in custody.
Advocates Vikhyat Oberoi and Nishita Gupta, appearing for Abdul Rashid Sheikh, submitted that they also have no objection to custody parole being granted, subject to the outcome of the Delhi High Court’s order on the issue of the cost involved.
After hearing all submissions, the court reserved the order for November 27. The Baramulla MP has sought interim bail or custody parole without cost to attend the Parliament Session scheduled to begin on December 1.
Sheikh has previously been granted custody parole to attend Parliament Sessions and to take oath after his election as MP.
He was also escorted to Parliament to cast his vote in the Vice Presidential election earlier this year. The Baramulla MP’s application seeking modification of the cost imposed for custody parole is currently pending before the Delhi High Court.
On November 7, a division bench of the Delhi High Court delivered a split verdict on his application. The matter is now pending before a single-judge bench.
