In a temporary breather for Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday granted him “interim relief” from arrest in three cases of murder and rape till it pronounces an order on his anticipatory bail plea.

The High Court also asked the trial court in Ambala to adjourn hearing in the cases fixed for August 31 to any date after September 15 so that it could pronounce its order on the anticipatory bail plea. Justice L N Mittal passed these directions in view of the lengthy arguments in the three anticipatory bail applications filed by the Dera chief.

The HC will now decide whether to send the Dera chief to the trial court to seek regular bail, or grant him anticipatory bail.

Pronouncing the orders, Justice Mittal said: “I can’t stay the arrest of the Dera chief, but since the final order on the anticipatory bail applications cannot be pronounced in such a short span of time I am directing the trial court to adjourn the case to any date after September 15.”