India, March 11 -- New Delhi

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued notice in a petition, seeking interim bail, filed by a 51-year-old advocate accused of repeatedly raping and assaulting a 27-year-old woman lawyer and allegedly attempting to influence her through judicial officers.

A bench of justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani sought Delhi Police's response and scheduled the next hearing for March 19.

The accused approached the high court on February 27 a day after a trial court refused to release him on regular bail. In the interim, he sought to be released on interim bail until the court took a call on his regular bail plea.

On February 25, the trial court refused to grant relief to the advocate and ordered that he be taken into custody...