The Supreme Court on Thursday took serious exception to Sahara chief Subrata Roy's interference in the auction process of his prime estate Aamby Valley, the auction of which got stalled after Roy's letter to police authorities in Pune warned of a law and order situation ahead of a possible lockdown forcing police to seize control of the premises.
The Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) conducting the auction brought the matter to the Supreme Court which ordered auction. It filed a contempt petition against Roy for writing a letter to Superintendent of Police (Pune) which proved to be an obstacle in the auction process. SEBI counsel Arvind Datar informed the Court that as on date, no buyer had come forth to participate in the auction.
On reading the contents of the letter, the Bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra told Roy's counsel senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, "You should not have written the letter," refusing to give Rohatgi a hearing despite his several requests. The Court ordered the police to evacuate the premises within 48 hours and directed the official liquidator of the Bombay High Court to restart the auction under the supervision of the Company Court judge and a sitting Bombay High Court judge.
The Bench threatened jail for anybody who interfered with the auction process. and posted the matter for hearing on November 23.