No change in CBI's clean chit to Amod Kanth in Uphaar Cinema fire case

New Delhi, Aug.29 (ANI): Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday stood by its probe report in a Delhi court on giving clean chit to former Indian Police Service officer Amod Kanth in the 1997 Uphaar fire tragedy case in which 59 people died of asphyxia.

"There is nothing to suggest any criminal intention on the part of Amod Kanth as alleged by the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT)," the probe agency, in its reply to the protest petition of the AVUT, said.

District and Sessions Judge S P Garg said the judicial records of the case be filed for deciding the matter and adjourned it for September 15.

Seeking dismissal of AVUT's petition against the clean chit to the former IPS officer, the investigative agency CBI said: "No criminal case is made out against any of the officials other than the persons already chargesheeted."

Kanth, the then Deputy Commissioner of Delhi Police (Licencing), had allegedly allowed retention of 37 extra seats in the theatre in 1979 in violation of the Cinematography Act.

It consequently blocked the exits at the balcony of the theatre where movie watchers died of asphyxia as they could not go out when fire engulfed the hall. (ANI)