The Supreme Court on Friday shifted Sahara chief to a conference room inside Tihar Jail complex where he will spend 10 working days to earn his freedom from jail once the Delhi Government issues notification declaring the hall to be used by him as a “prison”.
Subrata Roy, who is in jail since March 4 on orders of the apex court, was allowed to be released on bail on the condition that he must deposit Rs 10000 crore with SEBI. Roy, who is aiming to sell his overseas hotels in london and New York as a one-shot measure to secure money, required office space inside Tihar Jail to negotiate the “big ticket” deal with his foreign buyers through video-conferencing.
The jail authorities agreed to provide video conferencing and wi-fi internet connectivity at Roy’s expense but asked him to bring his own laptops, computers, stationary and mobile phones. The jail insisted that list of two secretaries and a technician should be supplied in advance who would not be allowed to stay beyond the allotted time between 6 am and 8 pm. The company will also provide names of visitors in advance to the jail authorities. They will be frisked by security personnel, who will provide round the clock security at the conference venue.
The bench headed by Justice TS Thakur directed the Delhi government to notify the premises to be used by Roy as “jail” by Monday. As the 10-day deadline will begin from August 5, the bench, also comprising Justices AR Dave and AK Sikri remarked, “let us see by August 15, they are able to earn their freedom.”