SC protects LIP leader S.S. Bains from arrest

New Delhi: The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, protected Punjab based Lok Insaaf Party leader Simarjeet Singh Bains from arrest in an alleged rape case “for the time being” so that he could contest and campaign in the ongoing elections to the state Assembly for which polling will take place on February 20. Protecting Bains from arrest, Chief Justice N.V. Ramana heading a bench also comprising Justice A.S. Bopanna and Justice Hima Kohli said, “We restrain the state government and direct them not to arrest the petitioner (Bains) for the time being.” As senior lawyer Mukul Rohatgi told the court that Bains was already a two-term member of the Punjab Assembly and is contesting the ongoing election in the state, CJI Ramana said that whether he is a two-time or threetime MLA does not matter.