"If you hear our story, you will love us and you will pat us," was how Sahara chief Subrata Roy described in the Supreme Court some of the torrid times the Group had faced.

While mentioning about the period of "crisis" some years ago, Roy himslef told a bench of justices K S Radhakrishnan and J S Kheher that thousands of Sahara workers contributed from their pocket so that investors could get back their money.

"It is a beautiful human story. If you hear our story, you will love us and you will pat us," he said.

However, the bench said "we will love you if you pay the investors' money. We will love you if you obey the rule of law. We will love you if you comply with our judgement."

"All through, you have engaged the best and the most bright counsel for arguing your case but you have not made payment to investors," the bench said.