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Police on Monday dodged the waiting photojournalists to ferry Sahara group chief Subrata Roy out of forest guest house in Kukrail amid tight security and left for Delhi by road. Roy will be produced in the Supreme Court at 2pm on Tuesday. The police convoy left from the rear end of Kukrail forest area at 2.45pm. The convoy comprised three SUVs with Scorpio carrying Roy flanked by two Toyota Innova in front and rear. SHO of Gomtinagar and deputy superintendent of Ghazipur were with Roy in the Scorpio belonging to the Lucknow SSP. Eight more policemen escorting the cavalcade were in the other two SUVs.

Roy will be taken to Delhi via Lucknow-Kanpur-Agra (national highway 2). He is likely to spend the night at a government guest house in Agra or Noida and taken to Delhi on Tuesday. Sources said a family member of Roy accompanied him in the SUV but police did not confirm it.

Roy's kin and aides trailed the convoy in luxury cars. Police stations falling on the route had been told to ensure a bottleneck-free passage to the convoy. On Sunday evening, police had decided to take Roy by air in economy class. But fearing bad publicity, the plan was shelved and road journey was chosen. A police officer supposed to escort Roy was asked to stay back after Sahara chief's personal staff requested for his removal.

Instead of taking the front route from the Kukrail picnic spot, the convoy took the unfinished road towards the rear end of forest to head towards Kanpur. The road passes through residential colony of forest department staff and is rarely thrown open for public. Roy's staff wanted to avoid attention and took a longer route (Kursi Road) to leave the city. Sources said there was tension among Sahara group employees on Monday with less than 30 hours left to face the SC that issued a non-bailable warrant against him on February 26.

Lucknow SSP Praveen Kumar said Roy had been provided security cover and would be produced before the SC at the designated time on Tuesday. "Arrangements for stay have been made at multiple government properties on way to Delhi, and DySP Vishal Pandey escorting Roy will decide the place of halt," he added.

Forest staff heaved a sigh of relief following Roy's departure. "We had been left alienated in our own compound and guards were asked to hand over keys to three security gates. For administration and police, Roy's privacy was paramount," said a forest employee.

Earlier in the day, BJP MLA from Deoria Janmejai Singh, former BJP MLC Mahendra Yadav and Congress leader Ammar Rizvi visited the picnic spot but were not allowed to meet Roy. When mediapersons reached the guest house after Roy's departure, the only thing they could get was newspapers scattered all over.

Source-On Request