Uphaar Fire Tragedy

A Delhi court on Wednesday ordered the de-sealing of Uphaar cinema hall, where 59 cinemagoers were killed in a massive blaze in 1997, saying absolutely no purpose would be served to keep the property sealed. The court noted that the CBI, Delhi Police and Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) president Neelam Krishnamoorthy have already given their "no objection" to the Supreme Court to return the theatre to the applicant. The application was moved by Ansal Theatres and Club Hotels Private Ltd, whose former directors were real estate barons Sushil Ansal and Gopal Ansal, who were convicted in the fire tragedy case. Since the trial has reached finality, absolutely no purpose would be served to keep the property sealed. The application is thereby allowed and property in question be de-sealed and released to the applicant being the rightful owner, the judge said. The judge rejected Krishnamoorthy's submission seeking appropriate action against the applicant for filing a copy o

A Delhi court hearing a plea seeking the de-sealing of Uphaar cinema hall, where 59 cinema-goers were killed in a massive blaze in 1997, has been told there are no subsisting charge, lien, mortgage, or loan on the premises located in Green Park Extension. The submissions were made by Ansal Theatres and Club Hotels Private Ltd, whose former directors were real estate barons Sushil Ansal and Gopal Ansal, who were convicted in the fire tragedy case, in an affidavit in support of its application seeking de-sealing of the cinema hall. The affidavit was filed in response to an objection by Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) president Neelam Krishnamoorthy regarding the liability or loan on the theatre property. "I say that there is no subsisting charge, lien, mortgage, or loan on the Uphaar Cinema premises located at Green Park Extension, New Delhi (subject matter of the captioned application)," company's authorised representative Vinod Kumar Kumar Saigal said in the affidavi

A Delhi court has sought response from the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) on an application moved by real estate tycoon Sushil Ansal, convicted in the 1997 Uphaar cinema fire case, to de-seal the cinema premises. Principal District and Sessions Judge Sanjay Garg directed AVUT president Neelam Krishnamoorthy to file a response by July 25, when the court will further hear the matter. During a hearing held on July 7, the court noted the submission made by the CBI counsel, who said he has no objection to the returning of the theatre to the applicant. The application has sought necessary directions for de-sealing of Uphaar cinema premises located at Green Park Extension here. The Supreme Court on April 27 allowed Ansal Theatres and Club Hotels Private Ltd, whose former directors were real estate barons Sushil Ansal and Gopal Ansal, to move the trial court for de-sealing of Uphaar cinema hall where 59 cinema-goers had lost their lives in a blaze in 1997.

From hearing the plea on same-sex marriages to Uphaar cinema hall's de-sealing, here are some important cases that were heard today

The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed Ansal Theaters and Clubotels Private Ltd, whose former directors were real estate barons Sushil Ansal and Gopal Ansal, to move the trial court for de-sealing of Uphaar cinema hall where 59 cinema-goers had lost their lives in a blaze in 1997. A bench of Justices KM Joseph, BV Nagarathna and Ahsanuddin Amanullah directed said the trial court may decide the plea, if moved by the firm within 10 weeks, in accordance with law. The top court recorded the submissions of Delhi Police and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), represented by Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, that they do not have any claim over the property. Nataraj said the due process under the law needs to be followed, for which the appropriate forum is the trial court, from where the property which was under investigation can be sought to be de-sealed. Association of the Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) president Neelam Krishnamoorthy, who appeared in person, submitted th

The Delhi High Court Monday permitted real estate tycoon Sushil Ansal, convicted in the 1997 Uphaar cinema fire case, to withdraw a suit seeking to restrain the release of web series "Trial by Fire", which is inspired by the tragedy. The series streamed on Netflix on January 13 as the high court refused to stay its release and dismissed an application for the interim stay. A massive fire had broken out at the Uphaar cinema during the screening of Hindi film 'Border' on June 13, 1997, claiming 59 lives. On Monday, the suit came up before Justice Yashwant Varma who was informed by Ansal's counsel that he wishes to withdraw the suit. The high court allowed the plea for withdrawal. Earlier on January 12, while dismissing the interim application to stay the release of the web series, the high court had observed the unimaginable tragedy made the "nation bow its head in shame". Ansal, who alleged defamation, had urged the court to grant an injunction against the release of the web serie

A magisterial court had convicted and awarded 7-year jail terms to Ansals in the case, besides imposing a fine of Rs 2.25 crore on each of them.

The case is related to tampering with the evidence in the main fire tragedy case in which the Ansals were convicted and sentenced to a 2-year jail term by the Supreme Court.

A court on Monday issued show cause notice to Delhi Police for allegedly making misleading statement before it regarding the sanction to prosecute Sushil Ansal

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to suspend the seven-year term awarded to real estate barons Sushil and Gopal Ansal in the Uphaar fire tragedy evidence tampering case. As far as Ansal brothers are concerned, I am rejecting their application, said Justice Subramonium Prasad. Last year, Ansals and former court staff Dinesh Chand Sharma and two others -- P P Batra and Anoop Singh Karayat - were awarded seven-year jail term by a trial court and the sessions court had refused to suspend the sentence and release them on bail. While dismissing the Ansals' plea for suspension of sentence till the appeal against the conviction by magisterial court is decided, the sessions court had said that the case was one of the gravest of its kind and the offence appeared to be the outcome of a calculated design on the part of the convicts to interfere with the course of justice. Before the high court, the Ansal brother had sought suspension of sentence on several grounds including their old .

A Delhi court on Friday dismissed pleas of real estate barons Sushil and Gopal Ansal seeking to suspend their seven-year jail terms awarded for tampering with evidence

A Delhi court on Friday dismissed the pleas of real estate barons Sushil and Gopal Ansal seeking suspension of their 7-year jail terms awarded for tampering with evidence

Additional Sessions Judge Anil Antil issued notice on the plea filed by the Ansal brothers challenging their conviction and the jail term by a magisterial court here on Monday.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pankaj Sharma also imposed a fine of Rs 2.25 crore each on the Ansals

The Delhi High Court Thursday refused to stay the trial in a case related to alleged tampering with the evidence of the 1997 Uphaar tragedy case

The police plea demanded that the brothers seek judicial permission before leaving the country

Ministry had sought the opinion of the Delhi government on that issue

Complainant sought time to consult on the apology, the court will hear the matter on June 6

On June 13, 1997, a fire had broken out at Uphaar theatre during the screening of film 'Border'

A huge fire broke out at Uphaar cinema hall when a Hindi movie was being screened in June 1997