Delhi HC restores ownership of Delhi``s historic Sapna Cinema to original 1984 partnership

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has restored ownership of Sapna Cinema, now being run as M Cinemas, South Delhi`s once popular cinema hall to its original partnership deed of 1984.

The restoration of the ownership of the cinema hall to the 1984 partnership deed, which included Sunder Kukreja and his brothers Ram Chand Kukreja (now deceased) and Raj Kumar Kukreja, came after a protracted legal battle which lasted 23 years.

The business of the partnership, D.R. Kukreja & Co., was primarily the running of cinema hall, i.e., Sapna Cinema. This cinema hall was constructed on a plot of land in East of Kailash, New Delhi, which was given on lease to the partnership by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) by a perpetual lease deed.

The legal dispute centered round the illegal reconstitution of the partnership firm based on forged documents and claims that Rs.50, 000 in cash was paid to partners for their share of property worth several hundred crores.

Court appointed CFSL verification report confirmed forgery to remove the three other brothers. The defendants, Mohan Lal Kukreja and Madan Lal Kukreja, claimed that a decision was taken among the family members to split up the family business in the years 1989-90 with a retirement deed and payment of Rs. 50,000 to partners.

The plaintiffs, on the other hand, claimed that there was no such retirement deed or dissolution of the firm and questioned the validity of the said retirement deed and the payment vouchers. An FIR of forgery, a charge sheet and a criminal case was lodged and filed against Mohan and Madan Kukreja.

The criminal case is underway.Speaking about the judgment, which was delivered on Friday, Mr. Sunder Kukreja said, " We persevered with this case, as D R Kukreja & Co is my father`s legacy. I am glad that justice has been delivered."