Bombay High Court on Wednesday granted a week's interim protection to film actor Nana Patekar by restraining police from arresting him in an alleged assault case and directed him to approach the sessions court for anticipatory bail.

Hearing Patekar's plea on Wednesday, Justice RS Mohite directed the actor to present himself before the police station at Deonar, northeast Mumbai, on Thursday, where the case has been registered.

The actor apprehended arrest in a complaint filed by businessman Utkarsh Morarka who claimed that Patekar had threatened him with a gun.

Patekar moved the Bombay High Court on Tuesday seeking anticipatory bail in a case registered against him for allegedly threatening Morarka with his gun near Vashi on the city outskirts on May 12.

On a complaint filed by Morarka, police had registered a case against Patekar for allegedly threatening the businessman with his gun.

Morarka had an argument with the actor over a minor accident that occurred on the Ghatkopar-Mankhurd link road in northeast Mumbai on May 12.

Later, when the two vehicles stopped at Vashi toll 'naka', Patekar first abused Morarka, hit him on face, then allegedly showed his gun and threatened to kill him (Morarka), according to the complaint filed by the businessman.

Patekar later filed a counter complaint with Pune police against Morarka alleging that it was the businessman who had threatened to kill him.