Srinagar: Shabir Ahmad Khan's much-awaited rendezvous with police finally took place just minutes before the sundown. Media men who had kept a day-long vigil outside Srinagar's posh Sonawar guest home had thinned out when the ex-minister 'reluctantly' drove into the Shaheed Gunj police station. The police officials who had been waiting for their elusive guest wasted no time slamming the gate on pesky cameramen.
Khan is accused of molesting a woman doctor for which an FIR stands registered in the very police station. Following the allegations, he was forced to step down as health minister last week. J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has since been looking after his portfolio - a move which may annoy his coalition partner - Congress - in government.
On Wednesday, Jammu and Kashmir High Court pronounced a conditional interim bail for Khan. It directed him to show up before police and seek a bail - (he was booked under section 354 and 509 of RPC) against a bond of Rs 25,000.
Early next morning, a relieved Khan took off for Srinagar after having evaded arrest for nearly a week. A special police team sent from Srinagar could not find him despite claiming to have raided several of Khan's and his relatives residences in Jammu.
And here at the Srinagar guest-home, Khan was with all the official privileges in tow - the same place, where as per the FIR, he had invited the woman doctor to serve him kehwa.
A round-the-clock security, plush accommodation, a flashy ambassador, few escort vehicles and a battery of lawyers possibly to ensure the former minister gets out as quickly as he gets in the police station.
Ironically, government had earlier claimed Khan's security was withdrawn on his resignation as minister.
On Thursday, he spend whole of the day in the palatial bungalow not before pleading 'innocence' before tv channels.
Sources say he even tried to persuade police to come to the guest house rather than he visiting the police station as per the court directions. But when police refused to comply, he 'reluctantly' paid a visit to the police station where a week back a 'distraught' doctor had given a detailed version of how Khan allegedly tried to seek sexual favours in lieu of inducements.
In the FIR, the woman doctor alleged she was repeatedly called by the personal staff of the former Congress minister to visit his office. And when she eventually had to, how Khan allegedly molested her.
In his defence, Khan told the media that the allegations were a political conspiracy and that he had full faith in judiciary.
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