Subrata Roy, face smeared with ink thrown by a lawyer, walks into the Supreme Court in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, March 4, 2014.The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that Sahara chief Subrata Roy and two other directors will remain in custody till the company comes up with a proposal to pay the money it owes to investors.
The court sent Roy to judicial custody till the next hearing on March 11 while two other Sahara directors, except Vandana Bhargava, were also sent to police custody. Subrata Roy to sleep on the floor at Tihar, eat jail food
The court observed, "We are not happy with the proposal of Sahara on refund of money. They have not come up with concrete proposal, bank guarantee."
The apex court also said, "You can't make payment in cash as it is contrary to law. You have to make payment through demand draft or cheque."
Roy had tendered an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court for failing to appear before it in on February 26.
Roy is escorted away by policemen after his arrival at the Supreme Court.
The court accepted the apology but also said this: "We respected you, but you failed to respect us." Read SC order on Subarata Roy here
Roy's lawyer Ram Jethmalani told the court that Sahara will pay its dues within two months.
The Sahara chief had on February 27 too approached the apex court tendering an "unconditional apology" for his non-appearance in the contempt case and had sought recall of the non-bailable warrant. The plea was declined by the court.
Roy was arrested after his failure to appear before the apex court in the contempt case arising out of non-refund of Rs.20,000 crore to investors by two of his companies.
Roy had sought exemption from personal appearance on the ground of ill-health of his 92-year-old mother.
Day of colour and chaos for Subrata Roy
Chaos, commotion and high drama reigned supreme when Sahara chief Subrata Roy reached the Supreme Court premises on Tuesday. As soon as 65-year-old Roy alighted from the police vehicle at 12:45 pm, Manoj Sharma - a lawyer from Gwalior - sprayed a bottle of ink on his face. He then removed his shirt and began shouting "he (Roy) is a thief and has stolen money from the poor". Sharma was immediately taken away by the police.
Another police team then whisked away Roy, first straight into a washroom for cleaning his face after the ink "attack" and then into the courtroom.
Though the hearing was fixed for 2pm, the corridors and courtroom No.7 was chock-ablock with lawyers, court staff, and other curious onlookers.
The security staff was forced to ban entry into the courtroom around 1:45pm when the crowd inside and outside the court became uncontrollable. The police had a tough time while taking Roy into the court. His lawyers Jethmalani and Aryama Sundaram too were seen struggling to gain entry into the courtroom.
As soon as the hearing began, Jethmalani informed the bench that his client had something to say. Seated on the second row, Roy stood up and with his hands folded, said: "My Lord, I unconditionally apologise for being unable to appear before the court though the reason was genuine. Accept my apologies. The judges retorted: "Yes, we accept the apology now since you are here".
However, Roy and his lawyers were taken aback when the judges ordered to send him to the Tihar jail rejecting his compromise formula. Roy's downcast and stunned face which wore a smile seconds earlier when he was arguing, said it all.
Rift within legal team. Was Roy ill-advised? Senior lawyer Rajiv Dhavan, who is representing Roy, made those in the courtroom wonder by repeatedly making this allegation while taking potshots at Jethmalani, Sundaram and another lawyer Ravi Shankar Prasad, who were also representing Roy.
- By Harish V. Nair in New Delhi
Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/supreme-court-ignores-subrata-roys-apology-sends-him-to-delhi-police-custody/1/346772.html
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