Srinagar, February 10
Former Health Minister Shabbir Ahmad Khan, who is in the dock over allegations of molestation levelled by a woman doctor, today failed to get any “interim or immediate” relief from the high court, where he had moved with an anticipatory bail petition.

Posting the matter for Wednesday, the court has directed the state government to file objections to the bail plea of Khan, who has gone into hiding ever since the allegations against him surfaced and an FIR was lodged on February 6.

Khan, who has resigned as health minister, is evading arrest despite. Arrest warrant against him were issued by the Chief Judicial Magistrate on February 8. It is the single bench of Justice Janak Raj Kotwal before which the bail application of Khan was listed today.

Khan’s counsel advocate BS Slathia said his client was apprehending arrest following a ‘false and frivolous’ FIR registered against him at police station Shaheedgunj under Sections 354 and 509 of the Ranbir Penal Code.

“It is a well thought-out conspiracy against my client. See the contents of the five-page complaint filed by the complainant lady doctor. It appears expert legal minds have been engaged while drafting it”, counsel Slathia submitted. He went through the contents of the FIR registered against the Khan.

At this stage, without granting any interim relief, Justice Janak Raj Kotwal, issued notice to the government, with the directions to file objections to the anticipatory bail plea.

Slathia submitted that his client, who is facing arrest, should be granted anticipatory bail as he needed to attend the legislative counsel session. “Mr Slathia, please don’t force the court to make observations on the facts of the case and don’t compel the court to reject the anticipatory bail”, said Justice Kotwal.