Can Subrata Roy get an office: SC to jailers

TNN | Jul 26, 2014, 12.10AM 

The Supreme Court on Friday asked Tihar Jail authorities in Delhi whether they could make available office space with Wi-Fi and internet facilities to help detained Sahara group chairman Subrata Roy finalize negotiations for sale of three hotels in London and New York. Roy and Sahara group had identified a guest house within the Tihar Jail complex but solicitor general Ranjit Kumar informed the court that it was close to the staff quarters and had not been designated as a prison.

"Communication facilities can be set up at the guest house, which could also be designated as a jail by the lieutenant governor for a specified period of the day during which Roy and Sahara group's identified personnel could use it for negotiations for the sale of assets," he said.

Appearing for Roy, senior advocate K T S Tulsi said important prospective buyers from abroad were in Delhi and the Sahara chief would like to participate in the final phase of negotiations to get the best price for the assets so as to enable him to raise the money needed for getting out of jail on interim bail. A bench of Justices T S Thakur, A R Dave and A K Sikri asked the SG to explore the possibility of providing Roy office facility in Tihar, where he has been lodged since March 4. The court had told him that he could come out on interim bail if he deposited Rs 5,000 crore in cash and Rs 5,000 crore in bank guarantee with market regulator Sebi.