Ansal brothers move HC for permission to use Uphaar cinema

The owners of Uphaar Cinema on Wednesday moved the Delhi High Court seeking permission for "productive use" of the hall which has sealed following a fire tragedy in which 59 cinegoers were killed 11 years ago.
Theatre owners Sushil and Gopal Ansal, sentenced to two years jail term by the trial court for causing death due to a negligent act, said in their application filed in the High Court said the property should be handed over to them as the trial in the fire tragedy case was over.
The Ansal brothers said the hall has not been used for several years and they want to put the cinema hall to "productive use."
"We have been deprived of running our business by putting the property to any productive use," the Ansals contended and said the revenue collected from the hall would contribute to the government exchequer.
The Court of Justice H R Malhotra would hear the petition on Thursday.
At least 59 people died due to asphyxia following a fire caused by sparking in a transformer, installed in the basement, on June 13, 1999.
In December last year, the trial court had sentenced five persons including Ansals to two year jail term for the negligent act. The court also sentenced seven others to seven years jail for committing the offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
All 12 convicts have filed their appeal before the High Court which is pending for final argument.
Press Trust Of India
New Delhi, April 02, 2008
First Published: 20:18 IST(2/4/2008)
Last Updated: 20:26 IST(2/4/2008)
THE HINDUSTAN TIMES