Jammu, Feb 10: As Jammu and Kashmir Police did not arrest former minister Shabir Ahmad Khan before midnight Sunday, they would now have to take Speaker Mubarak Gul’s permission Monday for his arrest.

Although police raided 3 places, including the official residence of the former minister in Jammu Sunday, they’re still clueless about Khan’s whereabouts. He has been accused by a lady doctor of sexually assaulting her.

The police were Monday expected to look the ex-minister’s ancestral residence in Rajouri city of Jammu region.

“We weren’t ready to arrest the defendant yesterday (Sunday) and unless he chooses to surrender himself voluntarily, we would have to get the permission for his arrest from the honourable speaker of the state legislative assembly,” a senior police officer told.

This new twist to the arrest of the former minister, against whom arrest warrants have already been issued by the Srinagar chief judicial magistrate, comes because the assembly session begins here Monday.

Khan is a Congress legislator from the Rajouri assembly constituency and would be protected by the privileges rule of the state legislature once the assembly is in session.

The process of seeking permission is likely to delay the former minister’s arrest.

An first information Report (FIR) was lodged against Shabir Ahmad Khan for sex offense on a lady doctor Feb 7 at shaheed Gunj police station in Srinagar.

Khan resigned from the state council of ministers Feb 8 and his whereabouts are since not celebrated.

He sought an anticipatory bail Feb 8, and the pleach is likely to be heard Monday.