Ex-JK minister arrested in sexual assault case, freed on bail

Former Jammu and Kashmir Health Minister Shabir Ahmad Khan was today arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a woman doctor and released on bail soon after he appeared at a police station here.
The Congress MLA, who was forced to resign from the Omar Abdullah ministry in the wake of the charges and had been evading arrest, was quizzed by police for about an hour as he came out of his hiding claiming innocence.
Khan arrived at Shaheed Gunj police station here at around 5 pm, a day after the Jammu and Kashmir High Court directed him to appear before police.

A police official said the former minister was let go after he gave a personal bond of Rs 25,000 as per the orders of the High Court.
Earlier in the day, Khan claimed that the allegations against him were false and were targeted to spoil his political career.
"These allegations are false and aimed at spoiling my political image and career. I am innocent...101 per cent innocent," the Congress legislator told reporters here.

The former minister expressed hope of getting justice from the court, and said he will cooperate with the police.
"I am here to give my statement to the investigating team on the directions of the court. I will fully cooperate with them. I am hopeful of getting justice from the court," he said.

Khan submitted an application to the investigating officer seeking permission to leave Srinagar so that he can attend the ongoing Assembly session at Jammu.
He also gave an undertaking that he will make himself available as and when required by the investigating officer.
The High Court had set several conditions on Khan which included not to leave Srinagar city without prior permission of the investigating officer
According to the complaint of the woman doctor, Khan as Minister of State for Health had summoned her to his office chamber in Civil Secretariat on January 28 and tried to molest her.