Notice to Sahara chief: 2G spectrum scam

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to Subrata Roy the Sahara group chief, for initiating contempt proceedings against him for allegedly interfering with the investigation in the 2G spectrum case.

Two journalists, Upendra Rai and Subodh Jain, have also been issued notices for allegedly threatening and blackmailing Enforcement Directorate’s Investigating Officer Rajeshwar Singh, who is probing the case.

A bench of Justices G.S. Singhvi and A.K. Ganguly sought response to the contempt notices within six weeks.

The bench said, “Having gone through the records we are prima facie of the view that an attempt has been made to interfere with the investigation conducted by Rajeshwar Singh in what has been described as 2G spectrum scam case and related matters.

Therefore, we take suo motu cognisance and issue notices to them.”

Sahara India news network banned and its sister concerns from publishing and broadcasting any story or programme relating to Mr. Rajeshwar Singh in response to 25 questions sent by Subodh Jain to ED official. The petition had also named the two journalists of Sahara Samay.

Court also observed that this was an attempt to blackmail Mr. Singh as it was done after Sahara India chief was served with summons by the ED to appear before it in connection with the investigation into the 2G scam.

The petition filed by Mr. Singh alleged that the notice was served to Mr. Roy to appear before it relating to a Rs. 150 crore transactions suspected to be linked to the 2G spectrum scam.

The petition mentioned before the Bench alleged that Mr. Roy did not appear before the ED and tried to blackmail its investigating officer.

Under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act the summon issued.