High drama as man flings ink on Sahara chief Roy’s face

In an incident similar to those that have often happened elsewhere but probably never before in India's Supreme Court, a man threw black ink into the face of Sahara Group chief Subrata Roy, calling him "chor" (thief).

Roy finally appeared in the apex court today before a bench exasperated at his repeated avoidance of personal appearance in spite of earlier orders in relation to a Rs20,000 crore liability to investors.

Manoj Sharma from Gwalior, who looked in his 30s, threw the ink on the face of Roy when he was brought to the Supreme Court amidst chaotic scenes despite heavy police 'bandobust'.

Calling himself an investor, Sharma waited for Subrata Roy, who was wearing his standard waistcoat and tie, to get out of one of the cars of the police convoy that had brought him a little after noon from nearby Noida to the court premises - and successfully blackened his face.

The man was beaten up by some lawyers and he was removed by the police to Tilak Marg police station.

The attempt of security personnel to bring Roy inside the Court premises through another gate did not bear fruit as waiting photojournalists rushed to the place where Roy stepped off the police vehicle.

Sharma – who has a previous record of having thrown a shoe at Congress MP Suresh Kalmadi when he was being brought to a court - removed his shirt and shouted, "He (Roy) is a thief. He has stolen people's money, and I am against thieves."