India, Jan. 13 -- The Delhi High Court on Monday refused to grant interim protection from arrest to a 51-year-old advocate accused of repeatedly raping and assaulting a 27-year-old woman lawyer, observing that the case had a "chequered history" and amounted to a "mockery of the judicial system."

The court noted that the settlement in the case was under a "cloud" in view of the antecedent circumstances as the case also involved judicial officers who attempted to influence the proceedings.

A bench of justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani declined relief after hearing arguments from the accused's counsel, Abhimanyu Bhandari, and the Delhi Police.

"They may be advocates, but this matter has a different flavour. It's not that simple. Some judicial ...