NGO head spiked children’s drink, exploited them: Cops

Khan’s associates and former students were in shock and many were present at the court hearing on Sunday where they protested against the charges. Khan has been booked for “unnatural sex” and criminal intimidation, besides other offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

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Khan’s NGO, Theatre Age, would fund studies of slum children by collecting newspapers from people’s houses and selling them. Currently there were 72 slum children (aged between 6 and 18) associated with the NGO and attending theatre and preparatory classes after school hours. While many of them came out in his support on Sunday, some incidentally said they had heard similar rumours against Khan earlier, but did not believe them. “We know him personally and he is more than family to us. These are mere allegations and nothing else,” one of them said.

One of Zulfiqar’s students, who studies in Class IX at a government school, found it surprising that police had not questioned them as part of their investigation. “How can some people who are not even a part of our NGO say such things against a person who has been trying his best to transform our lives?” he said.

Giving details of what they had found, the police sought five-day custody of Khan for further interrogation. However, the court granted only one-day custody.

Inspector Narender Patial, SHO, Police Station-11, said, “We have received written complaints from four more persons including three minors (the victims). All alleged that Khan used to have unnatural sex with them. We are expecting more children will come forward.”

Patial did not rule out the possibility of involvement of other accused. An investigating official said the police might also probe the source of his NGO’s funding.

Kanwarpal said that he first saw Zulfiqar “exploiting” minors in 2013. “Since I did not have any evidence against him, I did not file a complaint with police. But it was enough for me to leave his NGO of which I was a part for 17 years.” It was Kanwarpal who went to the Commission for Protection of Child Rights with “evidence” last week, leading to Khan’s arrest.

Asked about the allegations against him, Khan said, “Apne hi bik jayenge to kya farak padta hai (How does it matter if your own are bought over)?”