Subroto Roy Sahara

Subrata Roy Sahara 

(10 June 1948 – 14 November 2023)

He was an Indian businessman who founded the Sahara India Pariwar group in 1978. The group diversified into a wide range of businesses, including real estate, aviation, media & entertainment. Roy was a controversial figure, and his business practices were frequently the subject of legal scrutiny.

Roy was born in Araria, Bihar, India, on 10 June 1948. His father, Sudhir Chandra Roy, was a teacher, and his mother, Chabbi Roy, was a homemaker. Roy completed his school education at Holy Child School in Kolkata and went on to study mechanical engineering at the Government Technical Institute, Gorakhpur.

After graduating from college, Roy started his own business in Gorakhpur. He initially worked as a door-to-door salesman, selling life insurance policies and other financial products. In 1978, he founded Sahara India Pariwar, a company that initially focused on the transportation sector.

Over the next few decades, Sahara India Pariwar expanded into a wide range of businesses, including real estate, aviation, media, and entertainment. The group's flagship project was Aamby Valley City, a massive real estate development in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Sahara India Pariwar also owned Air Sahara, a domestic airline, and Sahara Movie Studios, a film production company.

Roy was a controversial figure throughout his career. He was accused of financial irregularities and was frequently involved in legal disputes. In 2012, the Supreme Court of India ordered Roy to be jailed for failing to repay investors in his company's bonds. He was released on parole in 2017.

Roy died on 14 November 2023, at the age of 75. He is survived by his wife, Swapna Roy, and two sons, Sushanto Roy and Seemanto Roy.

Roy was a complex and enigmatic figure. He was both a visionary entrepreneur and a controversial businessman. His legacy is likely to be debated for many years to come.

(c)Rohit Singh Negi / #ReshmiNair 

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