Uphaar tragedy: CBI holds Sushil Ansal to blame

New Delhi, Sept 27 (UNI) The Central Bureau of Investigation today continued to hold Sushil Ansal responsible for the Uphaar tragedy.

Furnishing Sushil Ansal's bank accounts, senior counsel Harish Salve, appearing for the investigating agency, contended that it was Sushil who oversaw day-to-day affairs in the cinema hall.

''Besides, he was sole licensee of Uphaar cinema hall, which attracts culpability in equal measure,'' he added.

According to the counsel, the transformer which caught fire causing loss of so many lives, had also earlier caught fire on July 6, 1989.

''Breach of license conditions is flagrant negligence,'' he said, adding that the license was renewed without carrying any inspection by the concerned authorities.

Even the seating capacities was increased in the the cinema hall, thus committing a violation of building by-laws, Mr Salve said, adding that the theatre hall was without any fire-safety measure.

''If Sushil Ansal had shared the profits, he cannot escape liability,'' he submitted.

The arguments will continue tomorrow.

UNI SSS VD DB1828