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The Delhi High Court had 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 u/s 376, u/s 342 and u/s 509 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.

Aggrieved, Hiremath moved the Bombay High Court seeking transit anticipatory bail which was rejected, observing that the applicant is charged u/s 376 of IPC, hence, the court is not inclined to grant such relief in this case.

Later, Patiala House court, delhi 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.