Mumbai: A sessions court today (July 27, 2004) restrained police from arresting noted film director Madhur Bhandarkar until tomorrow in a case of alleged rape of a model-turned-actress.

The court is expected to give its order tomorrow on Bhandarkar's anticipatory bail plea. Arguments were inconclusive today and would continue tomorrow.

Bhandarkar got a reprieve on July 24 when a sessions court restrained police from arresting him till today.

The victim had alleged that the Director had sexually molested her 16 times in the last five years on the pretext of giving her role in his film and even marrying her but he had backed out of his promise.

Bhandarkar, denying the charges of rape and criminal intimidation, submitted that the victim was trying to use arm-twisting tactics to get a role in his film.

Bhandarkar is charged with section 376 IPC (rape), section 493 IPC (cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage), section 506 (2) IPC (criminal intimidation) and 509 IPC (act intended to outrage the modesty of woman).