Uphaar Cinema fire tragedy: Patiala House court orders de-sealing of property
Uphaar Cinema fire tragedy: Patiala House Court has ordered the de-sealing of Upahar Cinema hall, saying no purpose would be served in keeping the property sealed.
On Wednesday, District and Sessions Judge Sanjay Garg passed a decision on the plea filed by M/S Ansal Theatres and Clubotels Pvt Ltd, stating that since the trial has concluded, it would serve no purpose to keep the property sealed. As a result, the application is granted, and the property in question is de-sealed and released to the applicant, who is the rightful owner.
The Uphaar Cinema fire tragedy took place in 1997, during a screening of the film Border. Fifty-nine people were killed and 103 were critically injured in the resulting stampede.
Sr. Advocate Maithai M Paikaday for the applicant company stated that all the legal proceedings stemming from the alleged incident on June 13, 1996, have been completed and that the property must now be given in favour of the applicant.
The applicant's company had taken certain loans from various Public Sector Banks against the said property, and if the same is released to the applicant, the applicant may transfer the same, which may affect the rights of the PSU bank, according to Neelam Krishnamoorthy, President of the Association of Victims of Upahar Theatre (AVUT).
In July of last year, Patiala House Court District Judge Dharmesh Sharma granted the release of real estate tycoons Sushil and Gopal Ansal from prison for tampering with evidence in the case of the 1997 Uphaar theatre fire.
Sushil and Gopal Ansal had challenged their convictions and sentences of 7 years in prison for tampering with evidence in a case involving the 1997 Uphaar cinema fire, which killed 59 people.
On June 13, 1997, a fire broke out in Uphaar cinema, killing at least 59 people and injuring over 100 others during a screening of JP Dutta's film "Border."
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- With inputs from agencies
