SC reserves order on Subrata Roy’s plea against his detention

The Supreme Court on Monday reserved its order on Sahara Chief Subrata Roy’s petition challenging its decision to send him to jail in the case relating to non-refund of more than Rs. 20,0000000000 of investors money. A bench of Justices K. S. Radhakrishnan and J. S. Khehar also agreed to consider Sahara’s proposal for paying Rs. 10,0000000000 for getting bail to its chief Subrata Roy and two directors who are in Tihar jail in judicial custody since March 4. In its new proposal placed on Monday, Sahara group assured the court that it will pay Rs. 3,0000000000 within three-four working days and another Rs. 2,0000000000 in cash by May 30. It also submitted that they would furnish a bank guarantee of another Rs. 5,0000000000 on or before June 20. The apex court had earlier imposed a condition that Mr. Roy will be freed on bail only if he pays Rs. 10,0000000000 out of which Rs. 5,0000000000 has to be in bank guarantee and rest Rs. 5,0000000000 in cash. Mr. Roy and the other two directors of the Group have been in judicial custody since March 4 for not abiding by the apex court’s order for depositing Rs. 20,0000000000 of investors money with SEBI. Sahara group submitted that Mr. Roy be released forthwith to facilitate negotiations with people for the purpose of raising money to comply with the apex court’s order. It also pleaded that its bank accounts be de-freezed which was frozen by the court on November 21 last year. In the meantime, senior advocate Arvind Datar, appearing for SEBI raised question on the account book of Sahara different firms, an argument which was strongly opposed by Sahara. Mr. Roy had earlier submitted that the apex court’s order for detaining him for not paying over Rs. 20,000 of investors’ money with SEBI was illegal and unconstitutional and sought quashing of the order.