I am innocent, says former Kashmir minister accused of sexual assault

Shabir Ahmad Khan, the former minister in Jammu and Kashmir cabinet who was accused of sexual assaulting a doctor, reached Srinagar on Thursday afternoon to present himself before police, a day after the state high court granted him interim bail.

Khan had to step down after allegations of assault surfaced against him.

The high court, which is hearing Khan’s bail application, had directed him to present himself before the investigating officer on Thursday.
The court has further directed the former minister that in case he is released, Khan should not leave the territorial jurisdiction of Srinagar without the permission of the IO.

Talking to journalists at the circuit house prior to appearing before the investigating officer, Khan said he was innocent and the allegations against him were baseless.

“I was not hiding and I am going to fully cooperate with the investigating officer,” he said.

A local doctor had filed a case against the former minister, accusing him of sexual assault in his office on January 28.