"The court has reserved its order on the anticipatory bail application moved by Tatya Lahane and also extended the interim protection from arrest until the next hearing date," Lahane's lawyer Swapna Kode said.
Lahane, a Padma Shri awardee and a noted ophthalmologist, was booked under the SC/ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act after a sweeper of JJ Hospital, Narayan Waghela, lodged a complaint on February 14 accusing him of making derogatory remarks related to his caste, as well as verbally abusing him.
An FIR was lodged against Lahane under the Atrocities Act and the Indian Penal Code. Lahane, who faces arrest, denied these charges and approached the Bombay High Court on Tuesday, seeking anticipatory bail as well as quashing of the case.
However, the court directed him to approach the sessions court.