Subrata gets jail guest house for negotiations

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Delhi government to provide a venue within the Tihar jail complex where Sahara Group chief Subrata Roy can hold negotiations with prospective buyers of his properties, by meeting them personally or through video conferencing, in order to raise funds and secure his release from prison.

A special bench headed by Justice T. S. Thakur asked the government to talk to the jail authorities to explore the venue but made it clear that the arrangement would be made only for holding negotiations and not for giving any comfort to Roy who has been in jail for nearly five months.

The bench asked the government, which said arrangement can be made in the guest house or court room inside jail, to respond by July 30.

Roy pleaded that he is committed to follow the apex court’s direction and sought its permission for shifting to Tihar jail guest house for a week to enable him to hold negotiations to sell his properties in India and abroad to raise ` 10,000 crore to get regular bail.

Roy submitted that prospective buyers want him to be present during all negotiations and said that he will also need computer and Internet connection.

The apex court on Tuesday had refused to release Roy, who has been behind bars since March 4, on interim bail or parole but had allowed selling of his luxury hotels in New York and London to raise money to deposit ` 10,000 crore with Sebi as directed to get regular bail.

The apex court, however, had assured 65- year- old Roy that it will allow him to go out of jail only during day time under police custody to hold negotiations with buyers to dispose of his properties. The bench, also comprising justices Anil R Dave and A. K. Sikri had asked him to approach the court when there is a proposal and assured him that suitable arrangements would be made by it.