‘Whiskey, Air Hostesses For Subrata Roy In Jail’: Ex-Tihar Official Alleges Kejriwal Didn’t Take Action

A former Tihar Jail official alleges that Subrata Roy received special privileges in jail, including visits from Sahara Airlines air hostesses. Gupta claims to have informed then-Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

File Photo of late Sahara Group chief Subrata Roy and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal

Source : PTI

Former Tihar Jail PRO Sunil Kumar Gupta has alleged that late Sahara Group chief Subrata Roy was granted special privileges while incarcerated, including visits from Sahara Airlines air hostesses and access to whiskey bottles. Gupta also claimed that the then Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal failed to act on the matter despite being informed.  

Speaking to news agency ANI, Gupta stated, "He (Subrata Roy) was provided with a video conferencing facility (as allowed by the Supreme Court). But besides that, air hostesses of Sahara Airlines used to come to him and remain with him for hours. I had seen whiskey bottles there."

"I had told Arvind Kejriwal everything. But I think he might have thought that he wouldn't be able to do anything against an IPS officer, or maybe he compromised," he claimed.

#WATCH | Former Tihar Jail PRO Sunil Kumar Gupta says, "He (Subrata Roy Sahara) was provided with a video conferencing facility (as allowed by the Supreme Court). But besides that, air hostesses of Sahara Airlines used to come to him and remain with him for hours. I had seen… pic.twitter.com/WmypIXM8O2

— ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2025

According to Gupta, Roy was initially kept in a regular jail after the Supreme Court sentenced him over unpaid dues amounting to thousands of crores of rupees. However, he later sought permission to use video conferencing, citing the need to negotiate the sale of his hotels to repay creditors. Gupta said that Roy was then moved to a court complex equipped with video conferencing facilities, where he also arranged for his own setup and stayed overnight.  

Gupta alleged that despite the Supreme Court's directive for legal procedures to be followed, "a lot of illegal things were happening." He recounted that prior to this, the Delhi High Court had called him over complaints of bribery and extortion in Tihar Jail. When he raised concerns in meetings chaired by the Director General (DG) of Prisons, his complaints were dismissed.  

#WATCH | Delhi: Former Tihar Jail PRO Sunil Kumar Gupta recounts his tenure and alleges that late Subrata Roy Sahara was provided special favours by the jail administration when he was an inmate, also alleges that the then CM Arvind Kejriwal didn't take any action when he… pic.twitter.com/ivgaV7qwxI

— ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2025

Left with no alternative, Gupta said he approached Kejriwal, then Delhi Chief Minister, in the presence of the Jail Minister. He informed them of the irregularities in Roy’s case, allegedly facilitated by the jail administration. "Arvind Kejriwal asked me if I could shoot a video of it. I told him it wouldn't be right for me and he could come here and check it for himself," he added.  

According to Gupta, Kejriwal expressed concerns about taking action against the DG of Prisons, an IPS officer under the Central Government. The former PRO claimed that Kejriwal initially agreed to act if a raid uncovered illegal activities but later backed out. "Two days later, DG told me that it was not good of me to approach (the then CM), and I implicated a 'gareeb aadmi'... But nothing was done about it," he alleged.  

He further claimed that while the Jail Minister warned prison officials against future misconduct, "Ultimately, nothing concrete was done. He (Subrata Roy Sahara) continued enjoying the facilities. Jail administration buckled before him."  

The former Tihar jail official also alleged that he faced harassment for raising these concerns. He said he approached the then Lieutenant Governor, who directed him to his Secretary, but no action was taken. Prior to his retirement, Gupta said he was served a 15-page chargesheet over alleged irregularities in a decade-old case. "This was just to harass... I was exonerated after 4-5 years and the Government withdrew the chargesheet. But I was so troubled for those 5 years...I knew this would happen," he claimed.  

Subrata Roy Sahara’s Fall From Grace  

Subrata Roy Sahara, founder of the Sahara Group—spanning finance, housing, media, manufacturing, aviation, and hospitality—passed away in November 2023 due to complications arising from metastatic malignancy, hypertension, and diabetes, according to a statement from his firm.  

Once a towering figure in Indian business, Roy’s empire collapsed amid accusations of financial misconduct. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) began investigating Sahara in the early 2010s after the company failed to repay investors. Two Sahara firms had raised ₹24,000 crore through bonds later deemed illegal.  

Sahara insisted its liabilities were lower and claimed to have deposited an adequate amount with Sebi. However, in 2014, Roy was arrested for failing to appear in court regarding the case. He spent over two years in jail before being released on bail in 2017.