The Bombay high court on Tuesday granted interim protection from arrest to former BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya in a case of alleged misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 26 lakhs for transactions that took place during the 1996 World Cup.

Judge V M Kanade adjourned the anticipatory bail petition to March 23 and directed police not to arrest him until then. The BCCI had filed an FIR against Dalmiya in this regard at the Marine Drive police station.

Dalmiya had earlier on Tuesday moved the Bombay high court for anticipatory bail, saying he apprehended arrest in an FIR filed against him by the BCCI.

The anticipatory bail petition came up for hearing before Justice V M Kanade who decided to hear the matter in the post lunch session.