- News>
- States
How to release Uphaar? HC seeks suggestions from AVUT
New Delhi, July 22: The Delhi High Court today asked the Association of the Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) to suggest how the cinema building could be released to the owners without the criminal trial being adversely affected.
New Delhi, July 22: The Delhi High Court today asked the Association of the Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) to suggest how the cinema building could be released to the owners without the criminal trial being adversely affected.
During hearing of Upahaar owners - Ansal brothers' plea for releasing the cinema building, Justice J D Kapoor sought to know from AVUT counsel K T S Tulsi as to how the same could be released without prejudicing the criminal trial.
Their plea had earlier been rejected by the trial court. Tulsi, who vehemently opposed the idea of releasing the cinema hall preserved by CBI as evidence since the June 13, 1997 incident, however, agreed to put forward his suggestions.
The court adjourned the matter till July 25 as Additional Solicitor General R N Trivedi, who was to represent the CBI in the case, was busy in the apex court.
Earlier, Ansals' counsel Ram Jethmalani argued that it was not proper to keep the building sealed even after six years of the incident.
"Will you seal the president's house if there is a bomb blast?" he asked and went on to add even parliament was not sealed like that after terrorists' attack on December 13,2001.
Jethmalani suggested that for evidence purposes, the court could order video-recording of the building and the same could be preserved.
Their plea had earlier been rejected by the trial court. Tulsi, who vehemently opposed the idea of releasing the cinema hall preserved by CBI as evidence since the June 13, 1997 incident, however, agreed to put forward his suggestions.
The court adjourned the matter till July 25 as Additional Solicitor General R N Trivedi, who was to represent the CBI in the case, was busy in the apex court.
Earlier, Ansals' counsel Ram Jethmalani argued that it was not proper to keep the building sealed even after six years of the incident.
"Will you seal the president's house if there is a bomb blast?" he asked and went on to add even parliament was not sealed like that after terrorists' attack on December 13,2001.
Jethmalani suggested that for evidence purposes, the court could order video-recording of the building and the same could be preserved.
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.
Their plea for permission to sell off the cinema hall to meet their liability arising out of the April 24 order of the court would come up before a special bench on July 28.
Bureau Report