Sahara chief challenges detention by SC

However, Sahara group's lawyers failed to get any immediate relief

Beleaguered Sahara Chief Subrata Roy today challenged before the Supreme Court his detention order passed by a two-member bench calling it "illegal and unconstitutional" and demanded his release.

"Declare the order deated 04.03.2014 as void, nullity and non-est in the eyes of law," said the petition on behalf of Roy which will be heard tomorrow.

The Sahara group's lawyers failed to get any immediate relief with a bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam referring the matter through a habeas corpus petition to a two-member bench of justices K S Radhakrishnan and J S Khehar, which would hear it tomorrow afternoon.

On March 4, the two-judge bench had sent Roy and two of company's directors to Tihar jail in connection with the case relating to non-refund of Rs 20,000 crore to its investors.

The same bench briefly heard the matter in the afternoon when senior advocate Ram Jethmalani made a strong plea for "rectification of mistake" in the March 4 order.

"It is a little embarrassing to argue before you that your order needs rectification," the counsel said adding "It is a deep embarrassment for me but if the lordship is willing to hear then I would make my lordships quite satisfied with my arguments".

However, the bench said it would go through the petition and hear the matter tomorrow and then can express its view.

"We will go through the pleadings then we will say whether we are embarrassed or not," Justice Khehar shot back.

A writ of habeas corpus is used to bring a prisoner or other detainee before the court to determine if the person's imprisonment or detention is lawful.

"There is some defect which needs to be cured urgently" Jethmalani had pleaded the chief justice's court and wanted it to hear him at 2 PM.