Sahara chief kept in detention, alleges petition

A habeas corpus petition, claiming that Sahara group Chairman Subrata Roy had been kept in 'illegal detention' by his wife and some other senior officers of the company, was filed with the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court on Monday.

There was some speculation over the ailing Roy's health for the past few days, but on Monday Roy had issued a communication to the employees of the group stating that "he was afflicted by some reversible mild disorders and they were nothing too serious to worry about." He also said that he would 'bounce back' in six to eight months.

The petition, filed on Monday by Bharat Nath Shukla who claims to be a well-wisher of Roy, came up for hearing before Justice Mukteshwar Prasad on Tuesday.

The court directed Shukla to file a supplementary affidavit by May 12, giving details as to when he had talked to Roy and also the place where he is alleged to have been detained illegally.

In his arguments before the court the petitioner's counsel Hari Shankar Jain claimed that Roy had been kept in illegal detention by his wife Swapna Roy, Deputy Managing Worker O P Srivastav and one R P Roy.

The state Director General of Police and the SSP of Lucknow have also been made respondents.

The petitioner sought issuance of a writ of habeas corpus to direct the authorities to produce Roy before the court.

The state government's counsel opposed the petitioner's plea contending it was not maintainable.

Roy has not made any public appearance since April 1.