Sahara chief walked out of court with a warning

Sahara group chief Subrata Roy today walked away from the Supreme Court with a warning, unlike three years ago when he was bundled off by the apex court to Tihar Jail on his first appearance before it.

There was no chaotic scene or untoward incident today, as was witnessed on March 4, 2014, when black ink was thrown on his face as he was ordered to be sent to Tihar Jail. He had come out on parole on May 6, 2016 on humanitarian ground due to the passing away of his mother.

Murmurings were rife in the apex court today whether Roy will meet the same fate as was witnessed a little over three years ago.
 

The embattled Sahara chief was to appear in the courtroom at 02:00 pm and shutterbugs, waiting to capture his shot for quite some time, were told that he was one of the first few visitors to get his entry pass made at 08:30 am.

However, the man of the moment came into the radar of the lensmen at 01:30 pm when he alighted from a white Mercedes Benz.

While photo-journalists jostled to try to get the best snaps, security personnel ensured that he has a safe passage to the courtroom where cops had take positions, both inside and outside, and asking people who were not in black and white robes about their identity.

Before walking to the courtroom, the 69-year-old businessman waved to the waiting cameramen and people who wanted have a glimpse of him.

Dressed in a cream colour bandi and Khaki trouser, Roy accompanied by some junior lawyers reached the courtroom at 01:37 pm and was given a place to sit in the second row.

A little later, his lawyer and senior advocate Kapil Sibal also arrived and both of them greeted each other.

The bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra, Ranjan Gogoi and A K Sikri assembled few minutes after 02:00 pm and straightaway commenced the business of the court which lasted nearly an hour.

Roy got an apportunity for a few seconds to speak unlike his last appearance in 2014 when he had narrated his story about success and failure in the business.

Today the bench only asked Roy "do you intend to pay the money?"

The Sahara Chief stood up and said "I am trying my best".

On his short reply, the bench said, "we are warning you, if the cheques are not cleared and amount is not coming frequently, we will be compelled to send you to Tihar jail straightaway from here".

Last time, the Sahara chief had tried to impress the court by stating that "Ours is a beautiful story, you will love and pat us".

While mentioning about the period of "crisis", he had said thousands of Sahara workers contributed from their pocket so that investors could get back their money.

"It is a beautiful human story. If you hear our story, you will love us and you will pat us," he had said.

However, the then bench comprising Justices J S Khehar (present Chief Justice) and K S Radhakrishnan (since retired) had said "we will love you if you pay the investors' money. We will love you if you obey the rule of law. We will love you if you comply with our judgement."

"All through, you have engaged the best and the most bright counsel for arguing your case but you have not made payment to investors," the bench then had said.

Today too, the bench said it was concerned that money should come.