The Supreme Court on Thursday extended for a week the protection from arrest given to Lok Insaf Party MLA Simarjit Singh Bains, against whom a Punjab Court has issued a non bailable warrant in an alleged rape case, in which he is accused along with six others.<br />''A bench led by Chief Justice of India N V Ramana asked the Punjab government to file its reply and matter will be taken up for hearing after a week.<br />''<br />''A two times MLA from Atam Nagar of Ludhiana Mr Bains is candidate from same constituency for the assembly polls 2022.<br />''The court also gave protection to the woman from any coercive action, against whom allegedly several cases were registered after she lodged a criminal case against Mr Bains.<br />''<br />''The Bench giving him protection from arrest for two days, had also raised questions over the conduct of Mr Bains.<br />''<br />