Sahara Group chief Subrata Roy was once again slapped with a contempt notice by the Supreme Court for allegedly interfering in the court-monitored 2G scam probe, along with two journalists working for his news channel.
The court on Monday issued the notice acting on a petition, filed by Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer Rajeshwar Singh, that accused Roy’s employees Upendra Rai and Subodh Jain of threatening and blackmailing the officer probing the 2G scam.
A Bench of Justice G S Singhvi and Justice K S Radhakrishnan issued the notice to Roy and the journalists, seeking their response on why a probe should not be initiated against them and said: “We are of the view that if the allegations raised against the contemnors (Sahara chief and employees) are accepted, then we have to conclude prima facie that there has been an attempt by the respondents to interfere with an investigation undertaken by the petitioner which is being monitored by this court.”
Delivering a rather strongly worded judgment, the apex court said: “Courts, if they are to serve the cause of justice, must have the power to secure obedience to its orders to prevent interference with the proceedings and to protect the reputation of the legal system, its components and its personnel, who at its behest carry on a court-monitored investigation. The court is duty-bound to protect the dignity and authority of this court at any cost, or else, the entire administration of justice will crumble and law and order would be a casualty.”
Roy is already facing action for not refunding investors’ money in a separate case wherein he was barred by the court from leaving the country for not handing over the deeds of its properties to stock market regulator SEBI. Emphasising the need to give adequate protection to the investigator, the Bench said: “If the officer who is entrusted with the task of carrying on that investigation is experiencing any threat or pressure from any quarters, he is duty-bound to report the same to the court. The officer should have the freedom to carry on his duty without any fear or pressure from any quarters.”
Holding the Sahara chief and his two employees guilty of contempt of court, the Bench further said: “We therefore issue notice to the respondents to show cause why proceedings be not initiated against them for interfering with the court-monitored criminal investigation.”
In May 2011, the court banned Sahara India News Network and its sister concerns from publishing or broadcasting any story or programme regarding the 25 questions that Subodh Jain had sent to the ED investigator. It was alleged that a few of Jain’s questions were personal. The court had observed that Jain’s was a blackmail attempt as he had sent the questions after Roy was summoned by the ED to appear before it over money-laundering charges in connection with the 2G scam.