HC notice to CBI over Ansals plea to open Uphaar cinema

New Delhi, Apr 3 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today issued a notice to the CBI to reply by April 28 as to why the Uphaar theatre should not be opened for screening films.

Although convicted in the Uphaar theatre fire case, the Ansal brothers moved the Delhi High Court yesterday to lift the ban on screening of films in the theatre.

Sushil Ansal and Gopal Ansal had been sentenced to 2-year jail term each in the fire tragedy that claimed 59 lives in 1997. The theatre has since been sealed.

Hearing the petition, Justice HR Malhotra ordered the CBI to reply by April 28.

Moving the High Court, the Ansals sought permission to start screening in the ill-fated theatre. Their petition contended that the ban on screening the film didn't exist any more after the case had been heard.

However, the association of Uphaar theatre victims pointed out the inherent contradictions in the petition. According to their counsel the case is legally far from over.

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