UP Police fail to trace Sahara chief

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday failed to execute the non-bailable warrant (NBW) issued by the Supreme Court against Sahara Group chief Subrata Roy as he couldn’t be ‘found’.

Roy, meanwhile, rushed to the apex court seeking cancellation of the order to arrest him and promised to present himself on March 4.

The police personnel, who searched Sahara Shahar, Roy’s residence, said that they met his mother and other members of the family but Roy was not present. “Subrata Roy’s whereabouts are not known at the moment... we met his mother and the doctor, who’s attending on her,” said a senior police official.

The police from the Gomti Nagar Police Station led by a circle officer reached Roy’s residence in the evening to execute the NBW. The entry and exit points of the residence were sealed and no one was allowed inside or to go out while the search was on.

For over two hours, the police searched every “nook and corner” of Sahara Shahar in vain. Officials evaded a reply on their next course of action but were clear that the NBW would be executed.

In New Delhi, the Sahara Group chief filed a fresh application before the apex court on a day when the conglomerate came out with a full-page advertisement explaining his position, which was described by his critics as  “contemptuous”.

Roy urged the court to recall its February 26 order and undertook to appear before the court. He also tendered unconditional apology to the court for non-appearance due to his mother’s illness.

In a related development, advocate Gopal Sankarnarayanan brought to the notice of the court the full-page advertisement released by the Sahara India Pariwar in a group of newspapers, saying it amounted to “contempt”. The court, however, refused to take cognisance of the oral mention and asked him to file a formal application.

Among other things, the advertisement explained the circumstances in which Roy had to attend to his 92-year-old mother at Lucknow.

“If someone is insistent to take me away from my mother before she attains at least some recovery, what should a son do? My earnest request to the administration is to help me on humanitarian grounds, as it involves the deep-rooted emotions of a son towards his beloved mother,” the advertisement  said.