In a sharp retort to Sahara Group chief Subrata Roy’s request to release him on bail on humanitarian grounds, the Supreme Court on Monday said “you are in jail by choice.”
“One thing which is troublesome is that the person (Roy) says there is an asset of Rs. 1,85,000 crore. He tells the court that he has so much of money but when it comes to paying one-fifth of that, he is unable to pay. The person who is blessed with so much money is sacrificing his liberty in jail and not parting away with his property. You are in jail by choice,” a Bench headed by Justice T.S. Thakur remarked.
The comments from the Bench were made when senior advocate Kapil Sibal for Sahara submitted that it was not fair for the court to have Mr. Roy continue in jail when the contempt proceedings against him were not over.
