Sahara Seeks Jail Facilities Extension for Subarata Roy

NEW DELHI: Sahara on Tuesday appealed to the Supreme Court for an extension of facilities provided to Subarata Roy in Tihar Jail to be extended by four to six weeks as its chairman Mr Roy is in talks to sell his three overseas properties.

The facilities provided to Mr Roy are due to be withdrawn on February 20.

Meanwhile, the top court today questioned the Sahara group's intent by questioning their lawyer how it would pay around Rs 30,000 crore when it is struggling to pay Rs 10,000 crore to get its chairman out of jail.

"We are wondering that if you come out of jail you have to pay Rs 30,000 crore. You are unable and struggling to pay Rs 10,000 crore then how will you pay Rs 30,000 crore?" The Supreme Court opined.

The Sahara lawyer responded by saying that his first priority is to pay Rs 10,000 crore and get Mr Roy out of jail.

The top court asked Amicus Curiae- a party that is not involved in a particular litigation but that is allowed by the court to advise it on a matter of law or policy directly affecting the litigation - Shekhar Naphade about the progress of finding out any asset management agency to sell the properties and wanted former Supreme Court Judge Justice BN Aggarwal, heading a panel on monitoring Sahara case, be associated with this work.

Mr Naphade told court that he found one British agency and will inform the court soon.

The court has said that it will soon take up the issue of extending time for utilising facilities like video conferencing in Tihar jail to Subarata Roy, who is in jail since March last year.