Jammu and Kashmir's former health minister Shabir Ahmad Khan, who is accused of molesting a doctor at his office, did not get bail from the Jammu and Kashmir high court here on Monday.
Khan is yet to be arrested, though Srinagar chief judicial magistrate had issued arrest warrants against him on Friday, a day after a molestation case was registered against him. Khan had sought an anticipatory bail from the high court earlier in the day. On Sunday, police had raided three places, including the official residence of the former minister in Jammu. However, there are still no clues about his whereabouts.
Khan had resigned from the state council of ministers on Friday. The court did not provide him interim relief and issued notices to the state government to file its objections, which the government counsel said would be done soon.
Khan is a Congress legislator from the Rajouri assembly constituency and would be protected by the privileges rule of the state legislature when the assembly is in session.
Meanwhile, the main opposition party, People's Democratic Party (PDP), alleged that the government was protecting the ex-minister "so that he can destroy evidence in the molestation case". Now, the police will have to take speaker Mubarak Gul's permission for Khan's arrest. "We have sought for the speaker's permission as assembly is in session," a police official said.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, the main opposition party, People's Democratic Party (PDP), alleged that the government was protecting the ex-minister "so that he can destroy evidence in the molestation case". Now, the police will have to take speaker Mubarak Gul's permission for Khan's arrest. "We have sought for the speaker's permission as assembly is in session," a police official said.
{{/usCountry}}