DHAKA: India’s top court on Wednesday ordered the arrest of the head of the giant Sahara business group for failing to appear in a case involving repayment of billions of dollars illegally collected from small investors.

The Supreme Court issued the order after Subrata Roy’s lawyer said the flamboyant billionaire could not appear because his elderly mother was ill, the latest twist in the 18-month-long case.

‘The arms of this court are very long. We can get him, we are issuing a warrant against him,’ said Judge K S Radhakrishnan, rejecting the lawyer`s argument and ordering Roy to appear on March 4.

On Tuesday the court rejected Roy’s request for an exemption from appearing in person over delays in repaying money collected from rural savers through bond sales, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 1839 HRS, FEB 26, 2014