Sahara chief finally appears on TV

Sahara group chairman Subroto Roy on Friday celebrated his 58th birthday, making a rare television appearance, which he used to scotch rumours about his health, assert that he was "absolutely disease free" and deny that his Rs 50,000 crore business empire was under a political scanner or pressure.

Roy said he was making himself fit enough so that he would be able to devote his energy to the development of the group, which has interests in para-banking, aviation and media, and the country for the next 20 to 25 years.

Hitting out at his detractors who spread rumours that he was dead, the business tycoon appealed to the government to enact a law under the criminal code against rumour mongers, on the lines of laws against thieves and criminals.

Strongly denying rumours about the political pressure on the group, Roy said, "All I can say is that even remotely, there is no political interference or pressure of any kind on Sahara India Parivar and whoever is indulging in such loose talk...are fabricated and totally baseless."

"Today, our prime duty is that through our collective efforts, we should endeavour to make the country progress from a developing to a developed nation", he said.

Intense speculation about his health, succession war in the Roy family and political pressure on the group were making rounds since 3-4 months in wake of Roy not making a public appearance.