Himachal HC restrains Sahara Group from collecting money

The order was passed following a petition against five Sahara Group entities

In a fresh setback to Sahara, the Himachal Pradesh High Court today restrained the Lucknow-based group and its entities from collecting money from the general public through any of the schemes floated by them.

Passing an interim order restraining the Sahara Group Companies from collection of public money, the court also said that the matter could be further investigated by banking regulator, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and capital markets watchdog the Securities and Exchange Board of Indi (Sebi).

The order was passed following a petition against five entities — namely Sahara India Parivar, Subrata Roy Sahara, Sahara Credit Cooperative Society Limited, Sahara Q Shop Unique Product Range Limited and Sahara Q Gold Mart Limited.

Hearing a petition against Sahara firms, a bench of judges R B Mishra and V K Sharma, said a prima facie case was made out against these and passed an interim order restraining the companies from making any transactions through any of their bank accounts without prior permission of RBI and Sebi.

Listing the matter for further hearing on April 22, the court also directed the Enforcement Directorate to give a response/status on money laundering charges against Sahara Group of Companies, as alleged by the petitioner.

The petitioner alleged that Sahara Group of Companies was "endeavouring to collect huge money from innocent public and are intending to bring a scheme of Sahara Q Shop to bring a chain of their consumers merchandise retail ventures for supply of consumer goods for various customers".

The interim order came on a day when market regulator Sebi summoned Sahara group chief Subrata Roy and three other top executives before it on April 10.