Thursday, June 9 2005 20:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Seeking to dispel persistent rumours about the state of his health, Sahara group chairman Subroto Roy will go public tomorrow to state that he is "absolutely disease free" and to deny that there was political interference or pressure on the Rs 50,000 crore group.

On the occasion of his 58th birthday, a Video taped message of Roy would be telecast tomorrow in which he voices the hope that he would be able to devote his energy to the development of the group and the country for the next 20 to 25 years.

Hitting out at detractors of Roy who spread rumours that the Sahara chief was dead, Abijit Sarkar, a spokesperson of Rs 50,000 crore Sahara Group told PTI Roy has appealed to the Government to make a law under the criminal code with strict punishment for those spreading rumours just like that for thieves and criminals.

Strongly denying rumours about the political pressure on the group, Roy said, "All I can say that even remotely, there is no political interference or pressure of any on Sahara India Parivar and whoever is indulging in such loose talks are fabricated and totally baseless."

Intense speculation about his health, succession war in the Roy family and political pressure on the group, which has diverse activities ranging from para-banking to aviation, infrastructure, media and entertainment, were making rounds since 3-4 months in wake of Roy not making a public appearance.

In a bid to reassure millions of investors and depositors in various Sahara Ventures, Roy said that some narrow and nasty minded people had blew out of proportion the condition of his health to "create turmoil amongst millions of people".

Detailing about his health condition, Roy said due to work pressure, on occasions he would not sleep for 72 hours at a stretch and this caused a problem of "blood pressure surge" wherein he suffered uneven rise in blood pressure for a few minutes.

Describing his problems as a disorder and not a disease, he said he also suffered from overweight of 20 to 22 kgs and the recovery was possible through a strictly regimented life style.

"My priority at present is to make myself more fit through natural means so that I am able to contribute productively with more and more youthful energies in the development of our organisation and the country for another 20-25 years," he said.

On his absence from public life in last few months, Roy said he did not want to discriminate within the Sahara parivar by attending just a few functions or a meeting of a select few.

Stating that he used to have a hectic schedule of meetings and numerous calls every day round the year excepting Holi, Roy said he had to make drastic change in his life style to attain complete good health.