LUCKNOW/NEW DELHI Sahara Chief Subrata Roy was arrested in Uttar Pradesh Lucknow Feb. 28 after he evaded for two days a nonbailable warrant issued by the Supreme Court for his failure to appear before it in a case of nonrefund of Rs 20,000 crore to investors. Capping a day of dramatic developments, 65year old Roy surrendered before police after calling them to Sahara Shaher.
"Roy has been arrested and will be produced in court later today," SP TransGomti Habibul Hasan said. Senior advocate Ram Jethmalani told a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice K S Radhakrishnan that Roy is in police custody in Lucknow and pleaded for recall of NBW issued on February 26. He submitted that the special bench, which is hearing the case, should take up the application today itself. But, his plea was turned down as the judge said it is not possible for the special bench to assemble Feb. 28.
The day started with Subrata Roy issuing a signed twopage statement, claiming he was not absconding and was ready to "unconditionally follow" Supreme Court's direction. Minutes after his arrest in Lucknow, son Seemanto addressed a hurriedly called press conference in Delhi and said his father was cooperating with the authorities and he had wilfully submitted before the police. Seemanto also said that arrest would not impact the business of the group, which claims to have a networth of over Rs 68,000 crore with lakhs of employees. Roy tried to explain his nonappearance before the apex court on the ground that he had gone out of Sahara Shaher to consult a panel of doctors and also to meet a lawyer.
The police had gone to his home Feb. 27 to arrest him but failed to find him there. Roy also appealed to the Supreme Court to allow him to be with his 92yearold "ailing mother under house arrest till March 3, 2014". Issuing a nonbailable warrant against Roy, the Supreme Court on February 26 had asked the police to arrest him and present before the court on March 4.
Moving the apex court Feb. 27, Roy had admitted that he had "erred" by his nonappearance under a bonafide belief that the court will permit him exemption from personal appearance for one day. "A lot of people advised me to get admitted in some hospital and I can remain there as it is the general practice to avoid courts on medical grounds. However, I hate to do such drama," he said. Subrata Roy's son Seemanto, who along with his brother Sushanto holds key positions in the group, however maintained that the arrest of his father would not impact the business empire. (PTI)
The day started with Subrata Roy issuing a signed twopage statement, claiming he was not absconding and was ready to "unconditionally follow" Supreme Court's direction. Minutes after his arrest in Lucknow, son Seemanto addressed a hurriedly called press conference in Delhi and said his father was cooperating with the authorities and he had wilfully submitted before the police. Seemanto also said that arrest would not impact the business of the group, which claims to have a networth of over Rs 68,000 crore with lakhs of employees. Roy tried to explain his nonappearance before the apex court on the ground that he had gone out of Sahara Shaher to consult a panel of doctors and also to meet a lawyer.
The police had gone to his home Feb. 27 to arrest him but failed to find him there. Roy also appealed to the Supreme Court to allow him to be with his 92yearold "ailing mother under house arrest till March 3, 2014". Issuing a nonbailable warrant against Roy, the Supreme Court on February 26 had asked the police to arrest him and present before the court on March 4.
Moving the apex court Feb. 27, Roy had admitted that he had "erred" by his nonappearance under a bonafide belief that the court will permit him exemption from personal appearance for one day. "A lot of people advised me to get admitted in some hospital and I can remain there as it is the general practice to avoid courts on medical grounds. However, I hate to do such drama," he said. Subrata Roy's son Seemanto, who along with his brother Sushanto holds key positions in the group, however maintained that the arrest of his father would not impact the business empire. (PTI)
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