India, Sept. 24 -- A sessions court in Bhiwandi on Wednesday refused to grant interim protection from arrest to former BJP MLA Narendra Pawar, accused of gang-raping a 22-year-old married woman along with dismissed police constable Shailesh Patil at Patil's secluded farmhouse along National Highway 3 between Bhiwandi and Kalyan on September 13.

The court said the allegations against the accused were serious and that it was necessary to hear both the investigating team and the victim before deciding Pawar's anticipatory bail plea.

The plea was placed before additional sessions judge ND Karande at the Bhiwandi court on Wednesday. The court summoned the victim and the investigating officer for a hearing on Thursday. In view of the seriousn...