The Delhi High Court on Friday granted interim protection from arrest to ET Now anchor Varun Hiremath in a case registered against him under charges of rape.

A single-judge bench of Justice Mukta Gupta granted the relief, however, she clarified that the same would only be provided if Hiremath joins investigation.

The court has also issued notice to the respondents and has now slated the matter for further hearing on April 16.

Mumbai-based ET Now Anchor Varun Hiremath has been accused of raping a 22-year-old Pune-based woman in New Delhi. The journalist was anticipating arrest in connection with the FIR lodged by the woman in Chanakyapuri Police station under sec. 376 (punishment for rape), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement), and 509 (insulting modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code.

According to the complaint, the woman had alleged that she was raped by Hiremath in ITC Maurya Hotel in Chanakyapuri. However, Hiremath denied the allegation as false and frivolous as the FIR was registered after a delay of 3 days i.e on 23rd February 2021.

Thereafter, Hiremath moved the Bombay High Court seeking transit anticipatory bail which was rejected last month. While rejecting the plea, Justice P.D. Naik observed that the applicant is charged under Section 376 of IPC, hence, the court is not inclined to grant such relief in this case. However, the applicant may approach the appropriate court, the Judge had said.

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Later, a Delhi court had also refused the anticipatory bail application of Hiremath, while observing that if the woman states in her evidence before the court that she did not consent, the court shall presume that she did not consent. The order was passed by Additional Sessions Judge Sanjay Khanagwal.