Bollywood backs Sahara chief, calls him ‘true patriot’

The Bollywood figures refused to comment on the case, saying the matter was sub judice and that they knew little about the litigation.

Bollywood personalities Sunday came out in full support of Subrata Roy calling him a “true patriot” and a “generous and wonderful human being”, days after he was arrested in a case related to non-refund of investors’ money.

The press conference called at a music studio in Andheri to voice support for Roy witnessed drama of sorts with actor Fardeen Khan and other personalities, especially director Ramesh Sippy, complaining about the “character onslaught” on Roy, but choosing to remain silent on the plight of the investors who lost their money in the alleged fraud. Actor Johnny Lever, lyricist Sameer, singers Nitin Mukesh, Rahul Vaidya, Saapna Mukherjee and Sadhana Sargam were others who rallied for the Sahara chief.

Fardeen said, “There is a trend that is very common nowadays that when someone is facing legal challenges, he faces a character onslaught. That is why we are here to defend Subrata Roy. He is a conscientious and honest man, and has always been a true Indian patriot… We have heard adjectives such as megalomaniac being used for him. When we hear such things, we feel we should defend him. At least give the man a chance to defend himself.”

The Bollywood figures refused to comment on the case, saying the matter was sub judice and that they knew little about the litigation.

Sippy said, “Whatever the Supreme Court verdict is, we will accept it. The matter is sub judice, it won’t be right to comment. We have come because we personally know the Sahara chief.” When asked about investors who lost money, Sippy said, “We don’t know any of these investors personally to speak about them.”

“Subrata Roy does not put any one down. The kind of things that have been said about him, he is actually not like that,” Lever said, praising the Sahara boss.

Roy to be taken to Delhi today

Lucknow: Police is likely to take Sahara chief Subrata Roy, currently in UP Forest department’s guest house near Lucknow, to Delhi Monday for his production before the SC Tuesday. While police and government officers discussed the mode of transport for Roy till late Sunday, sources said he was likely to be taken to Delhi by road.

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