New Delhi, July 11: The city police today asked the Delhi High Court not to release the Rs 2.14 crore deposited by it as compensation to the Uphaar fire victims, saying they would challenge the court's order in the Supreme Court. In a petition filed before a division bench of Justice S K Mahajan and Justice Mukul Mudgal, DCP licencing G C Dwivedi said the police would file an appeal against the April 24 order for payment of compensation to the victims of the tragedy that had claimed 59 lives in June 1997. The bench posted the petition for hearing on July 21 when Uphaar owners i.e. Ansals' plea for disposing of the cinema hall would be taken up. A vacation bench had on June 27 ordered the release of about Rs seven crore deposited by DVB, MCD and Delhi Police for payment of compensation to the victims of the tragedy.

On June 23, MCD, DVB and Licensing Authority of Delhi Police, who were held responsible alongwith Uphaar cinema owners for lapses leading to the tragedy, had deposited cheques totaling about Rs seven crore as compensation for victims of the fire tragedy.

While DVB's share of Rs 2,45,44,650 was paid by its successor company BSES, the DCP licencing deposited a cheque of Rs 2.14 crore. The MCD too deposited a cheque of over Rs 2.26 crore on the last day of the two-month time given to them to pay the compensation money.


The Ansals, who were ordered to shell out 55 per cent of over Rs 17 crore compensation awarded to the victims, are yet to deposit their share. They have moved the court seeking permission to sell off the cinema hall to meet their liability arising out of the verdict.
Bureau Report