Rashid to approach HC over travel cost to Parl
New Delhi, July 24 -- Jailed Lok Sabha MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh (Engineer Rashid), who was granted custody parole to attend Parliament between July 24 and August 4, is set to approach the Delhi high court for interim bail and the exorbitant fee charged by prison authorities for his travel from Delhi's Tihar jail to Parliament, family members and his party officials said.
Rashid, who represents the Baramulla constituency was issued a bill of Rs.874816 (Rs.1.45 lakh per day) for travel and security expenses for six days when he attended Parliament in March. The parole this time is for 12 days. "How can we pay over Rs.1 lakh per day for travel from Tihar jail to the Parliament. My father wants to do his constitutional duty by attending Parliament and taking part in the discussions. We will approach the HC seeking relief," Rashid's son Abrar said. "The fee is unjustified. When they take prisoners for trial or medical checkup, they do not send such bills," he added.
On March 25 , a special NIA court allowed Rashid, accused in a terror case, to attend Parliament on the condition that he would bear travel expenses, return to jail in the evening and not have access to cell phones. The amount was not specified by the court. In February and March when he attended Parliament, a Delhi police team escorted him from the jail to the Parliament and handed him to the CISF personnel inside the house. After the day's proceedings, he was taken back by the police team to Tihar.
HT reached out to the Tihar authorities but did not get a comment. htc...
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