The Bombay High Court on Friday restrained the Maharashtra police from arresting or taking any coercive action against Union minister Narayan Rane over an FIR filed against him in Dhule district in connection with his 'slap' remark targeted at state Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

A bench of Justices P B Varale and S M Modak granted interim protection to the minister after the state government's counsel Y P Yagnik said the police were not willing to make a statement that they will not arrest Rane in the case until further others from the court.