Even as the Supreme Court issued a non bailable warrant against Sahara group chief Subrata Roy, his son Seemanto Roy in a press conference on Friday said that his father had willfully surrendered to the Lucknow Police.
In the press meet that had the presence of the Delhi Police officials too, Roy alleged that misconceptions against the Sahara chief were being created due to vested interests.
He refrained from giving the details of the case stating that the matter was sub-judice.
Roy also stated that his father is a law abiding citizen and he failed to appear in the court as his mother was seriously unwell. "Subrata Roy wanted to spent time with his mother. So he decided to go back to Lucknow immediately. Any son would do that. The condition of his mother continues to remain fragile," he said adding that the medical reports have been given to the court.
Enumerating the contributions of the Sahara group in the past, Roy said that they had helped the Kargil martyrs, victims of earthquakes, victims of Mumbai attack among others. "It pains me to see Sahara chief's name tarnished in this manner," he said.
Subrata roy's arrest comes as the request of his lawyer to hear the matter on Friday had been declined by the court earlier in day. The court informed the lawyer that he will be in custody till March 3 and the case will be taken up on March 4.
Earlier on Friday Roy issued a statement where he said that he was not absconding arrest and was indeed in Lucknow. He also requested the Supreme Court to put him under house arrest with his ailing mother in Lucknow.
In the media statement issued on Friday morning, Roy said, "I am not absconding. I am in Lucknow. With folded hands and all humility I ask the honourable judges to leave me under house arrest with my ailing mother."
Roy on Thursday moved the Supreme Court asking for the recall of the non-bailable warrant. He also tendered an unconditional apology to the court admitting that not turning up at court was an error in judgement.
Besides seeking recall of Wednesday's order and the NBW, Roy's application sought a stay of the operation of the order during the pendency of this application. He appealed to the "humane side" of the court to consider sympathetically the wishes of his mother and permit him to be with her in her last moments. Roy also said that he believed that the court will in all its magnanimity pardon the "error of judgement" on his part and condone his non-appearance since it was "neither intentional nor deliberate".
He submitted that the non-recall of the NBW order shall cause "grave prejudice" to him and he shall suffer "irreparable loss and injury because without your lordships' merciful favour applicant cannot be with his mother in peace". Roy submitted that he was emotionally and mentally very attached to his mother who has been guiding light in his life since he lost his father 37 years ago.
The court had issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against him on Wednesday when he failed to appear in court in connection with Sahara's failure to refund Rs 20,000 crore to investors.
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