Supreme Court grants MLA Simarjeet Singh Bains interim protection for 2 days

The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended the interim protection granted to Punjab Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Simarjeet Singh Bains by two days, in cases filed against him for offences of rape and violating COVID protocol. .A Bench led by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana was hearing a plea by the Lok Insaaf Party leader challenging a Ludhiana court order which ordered arrest warrants against Bains after he failed to appear in a case about violation of COVID norms, and also against rape allegations. While Bains' counsel said the plea to quash these charges are pending before the High Court, the complainant's counsel said he is a threat to society and that FIRs have been filed to falsely implicate her."List complainant lady's writ petition day after tomorrow. We direct the State to not arrest the petitioner meanwhile and let the plea be listed day after tomorrow," the Court ordered. .Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing for Bains, said the case of rape against his client, a two-time MLA, was a bogus one and the petition to quash it was pending before the High Court. Advocate Jaspreet Gogia appearing for the State, said the warrants issued were bailable. To this, the CJI said:"He is a contesting candidate. Let him contest and then arrest him ... It is unfortunate that High Court has not passed an order in this case."Advocate Gagan Gupta, appearing for the lady complainant, informed the Bench that they have filed a writ petition and asked that it be heard tomorrow. The Court to this, said:"We are only saying protection till Feb 23 and then let him surrender and apply for regular bail," the Court responded."After (I filed) the rape FIR, cases have been filed against me in two places on some finances. Now this plea has been based as if this is happening in the brink of elections. There are 20 cases pending against him. He is a threat to the society," Gupta said.She expressed apprehension that the complainant would be implicated in more false cases if Bains is released and pointed out that she has also filed a petition on the issue. The Court then agreed to list both the petitions for hearing day after tomorrow while asking State not to arrest the Bains in the meanwhile..The top court had on Monday granted interim protection from arrest to Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Majithia in a drug case registered against him by the Punjab Police.[Read Order].[Live account of hearing below]