The special NIA court, currently hearing the matter, on November 21 had recommended the transfer of the case to a special court designated for MPs or MLAs because Mr. Rashid is now an MP. File | Photo Credit: The Hindu

NIA to request Delhi High Court to vest powers of MP/MLA court to hear Engineer Rashid’s case

NIA seeks Delhi High Court approval for MP/MLA court powers in terror funding case involving Baramulla MP Rashid

by · The Hindu

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday (November 27, 2024) informed the Patiala House court in New Delhi that it will write a letter to the Delhi High Court requesting it to designate the NIA court with the powers of MP/MLA court to empower it to hear a terror funding case in which Baramulla MP, Shiekh Abdul Rashid (alias Engineer Rashid), is one of the accused.

The special NIA court, currently hearing the matter, on November 21 had recommended the transfer of the case to a special court designated for MPs or MLAs because Mr. Rashid is now an MP.

Mr. Rashid leads the Awami Ittehad Party but successfully contested the 2024 general elections as an independent candidate from Baramulla. He had defeated National Conference leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Special Public Prosecutor for the NIA, Siddharth Luthra, submitted that the powers of the Central agency are designated under the provisions of the NIA Act which empowers it to hear the matters registered under the UAPA and other cases being investigated by it.

He said it would take around 10 days to receive a response from the Delhi High Court and requested the court to list the case after the High Court’s response.

The Central agency also stated that the case should not be transferred to the MP/MLA court as it would delay the trial.

Principal District and Sessions Judge Vimal Kumar Yadav listed the matter for hearing on December 6, 2024.

Mr. Rashid’s name cropped up during the investigation of Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, who was arrested by the NIA for allegedly funding terrorist groups and separatists in the Kashmir valley.

The NIA had filed a charge sheet against several people, including Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin in the case.

Malik was sentenced to life imprisonment by a trial court in 2022 after he pleaded guilty to the charges.

Published - November 27, 2024 08:51 pm IST