The Supreme Court has declined to hear a plea on withdrawal of the non-bailable warrant against Sahara chief Subrata Roy for his failure to appear before the court in a case related to defaulting on investors’ payments.
Roy's son and Executive Director of Sahara India Pariwar Seemanto Roy said this development will not impact the businesses of the group. The group has over 12 lakh employees whom it calls ‘karamyogis’. It claims to have a net worth of over ₹68,000 crore.
The dramatic day began with issuance of a two-page note by Subrata Roy saying he was not absconding and was ready to “unconditionally follow” the Supreme Court’s direction. This note came a day after local police visited Roy's residence to execute the apex court's warrant issued on February 26, but had to return empty handed. The court ordered Roy to be present before it on or before March 4.
He tried to explain his non-appearance before the apex court on the ground that he had gone out of Sahara Shaher, his estate, in Lucknow to consult a panel of doctors and meet a lawyer. Roy also appealed to the Supreme Court on Thursday to allow him to be with his 92-year-old ailing mother during the period (till March 3, 2014), while adding that he was ready to reach Delhi even today, if the court wanted him to do so. However, he did not get any relief.
After issuing the note, the Sahara chief surrendered before the police which took him into custody. The police produced him before the local court and prayed for transit remand so that he could be produced before the apex court.
Plea in Supreme Court According to Press Trust of India, senior advocate Ram Jethmalani moved a plea on behalf of Subrata Roy before a bench headed by Justice KS Radhakrishnan for the recall of the warrant issued by the court on February 26. He told the bench Roy had surrendered and was in police custody.
Jethmalani submitted that the special bench, comprising Justices Radhakrishnan and JS Khehar, which heard the case, be assembled on Friday to hear his application.
Justice Radhakrishnan, who sat with Justice Vikramajit Sen, however, said it is not possible for the special bench to assemble on Friday.