New Delhi, June 26: Victims of Uphaar fire tragedy, which claimed 59 lives here in 1997, today asserted that they would not allow release and sale of Uphaar cinema, as sought for by its owners Ansal Theatres and Clubhotels Private Ltd, saying it was a primary piece of evidence in the criminal case against the owners. "The cinema hall is the primary evidence in the criminal case and a monument of mass murder. At no cost shall we agree to this being tampered with so that the Ansals can secure their acquittal", their counsel K T S Tulsi said at a press conference organised by the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT). "This battle is not for money, but for justice. They (Ansals) thought we are greedy for money. Our aim is secure punishment to those guilty for the tragedy. We are determined to fight to the finish," he said. The cinema owners had moved the Delhi High Court seeking release of the cinema so that they could sell it to raise their share of the compensation amount to be paid to the victims. Their plea will come up for hearing when the court reopens after summer recess. Rubbishing claims by the owners that they do not have any other tangible assets other than the theatre, Tulsi said the "object is to delay payment (of compensation amount) on the pretext of sale of theatre. By this they wish to save themselves in the criminal case." He alleged that the Ansals had transferred the company's assets merely to avoid liability.

Bureau Report