SC allows Subrata Roy to use conference room in Tihar

An apex court bench allowed the Delhi government to issue notification designating the conference hall as a jail by Aug 4 where Roy along with two other directors will be shifted Aug 5 / PTI file photo

 The Supreme Court today allowed Sahara chief Subrata Roy to use the conference room in Tihar jail complex for ten days from August 5 to hold negotiations with potential buyers to sell his three luxury hotels in New York and London to raise Rs 10,000 crore to get regular bail.

A bench headed by Justice T S Thakur asked Delhi Government to issue notification by August 4 for converting the conference room into jail which can be used by Roy and two jailed directors of Sahara for 10 working days from 06:00 AM to 08:00 PM for holding negotiations with prospective buyers of hotels in New York and London.

The bench also permitted them to avail the service of three staff -- two secretarial and one technical person -- during the hours of negotiations with a clear direction that they would not be allowed to stay overnight.

It was made clear that Saharas would foot the bills for using the Wi-fi facility of the conference room and get the other gadgets like landline telephones with STD/ISD facilities on their own cost. They were also allowed to have a mobile phone, computers -- desk top and lap top and printers.

The apex court said names of prospective buyers/visitors have to be given in advance and they would be subjected to usual security drills including frisking and all other rules and regulations will continue to operate as per the jail manual.

The bench, also comprising justices A R Dave and A K Sikri, passed the directions after recording the agreement reached between the Saharas, Tihar jail authorities and SEBI.

The apex court had on July 25 asked the Delhi government to explore a venue within Tihar jail complex where Subrata Roy can hold negotiations with buyers.

Roy, 65, who has been in jail for the past five months, had pleaded that he was committed to follow 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 Rs 10,000 crore to get regular bail.

While allowing him and two others to hold negotiations from conference romm, the bench said they are still under judicial custody and "it is not a substitute for liberty".