Delhi HC grants bail to Uphaar tragedy case convict

New Delhi, Jan 23 (UNI) The Delhi High court today granted bail to Radha Kishan Sharma, former manager and a convict in the 1997 Uphaar cinema hall fire tragedy case.

After hearing the petition, Justice H R Malhotra ordered the suspension of his sentence. The court also ordered to start hearing the case everyday from February 19.

Pleading ignorance, Sharma had moved the High Court to suspend the sentence awarded to him by a trial court last year. He is serving seven years rigorous imprisonment in the case.

Sharma was among 12 accused who were convicted by a trial court for alleged complicity in the fire tragedy.

The court of Additional Sessions Judge Mamta Sehgal on November 20 last year had convicted all the 12 accused, including theatre owners Sushil and Gopal Ansal, under various provisions of the IPC.

Seven convicts--Radha Krishan Sharma, N S Chopra, Ajit Chowdhary (Uphaar managers), Manmohan Unniyal (Cinema hall's gatekeepeer), Brij Mohan Satija, A K Gera and Bir Singh (all DVB officials)-- were handed down seven years' term after being held guilty under section 304 part II (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) while the Ansal brothers and three others were sentenced to two years' imprisonment under section 304 A (criminal negligence causing death) of the IPC.

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