SC Sends Man To Jail For Not Paying Rs 50L As Per Undertaking To Court

The Supreme Court Bench led by Chief Justice J S Khehar sent a Delhi-based man to Tihar jail till Monday after he failed to deposit Rs 50 lac with court Registry despite an undertaking to court in a landlord-tenant dispute.

Surinder Singh Arora, facing a case in Delhi High Court for illegally possessing a three-storey house in Paschim Vihar area and his failure to pay Rs 50 lac to landlord as rent.

The court rejected his submission that he is ready to pay but needs further time to do so.

"Why did you give undertaking to court, if you were not in a position to deposit? If you pay by Monday you will be allowed to go otherwise you will stay in jail," CJI said and directed Supreme Court security to take him to Tihar forthwith.

A division bench of Delhi High Court has already observed in its order about Singh's wilful disobedience of court order.

Challenging the high court order, Arora moved Apex Court and in February, he had furnished an undertaking to court to deposit the money with Registry but failed to do so.

According to the landlord,  who never wanted to disclose his name, the house was rented out to M/S Mind and Soul fitness private Ltd in which Arora is a stakeholder for 2.70 lac per month.

The company, however, failed to pay the rent since September, 2014 and it was illegally occupied by Arora.