HC denies Gopal Ansal relief from personal appearance in case

New Delhi, Apr 29 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today denied Uphaar Cinema hall owner Gopal Ansal exemption from personal appearance in a trial court hearing a case of alleged tampering with evidence in the 1997 fire tragedy.

Hearing senior advocate D C Mathur's plea for exemption to Ansal from personal appearance, Justice G S Sistani said, ''Let him come back and appear before the trial court on May 2.'' Ansal had approached the High Court for quashing a trial court's February 15 order issuing summons against him and his brother, besides four others, for having allegedly tampered with evidence in the Uphaar fire tragedy case. The court had directed them to appear before it on May 2.

He pleaded that the proceeding against him was illegal and it should be stayed as an inquiry had said it was a case of simple misconduct.

The bench, however, refused to stay the proceedings.

''If you are aggrieved then you should have challenged the order which had directed the police to register FIR against you. If the case is prolonged then I may stay the proceeding,'' Justice Sistani said, while issuing notice to Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police to file its reply by May 22.

UNI SSS PY RP VC1840