"Disobedience of orders of a Court strikes at the very root of the rule of law, on which the judicial system rests. Judicial orders are bound to be obeyed at all costs.
"Howsoever grave the effect may be, is no answer for non-compliance of a judicial order. Judicial orders cannot be permitted to be circumvented. In exercise of contempt jurisdiction, Courts have the power to enforce compliance of judicial orders, and also, the power to punish for contempt," the Court said in its 207-page order dismissing Roy's petition against his detention.
A bench of justices K S Radhakrishnan and J S Khehar in a strongly-worded judgement came down heavily on the Group for "systematically" frustrating and flouting all its orders with impunity on refunding investors' money.
It said the group "adopted a demeanour of defiance constituting a rebellious behaviour, not amenable to the rule of law" and justified its decision to send Roy along with two promoters of the companies to jail.