Date:23/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/23/stories/2008082350560100.htm

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Court asks CBI to file report on warrants against Ansal brothers

J. Venkatesan

Sushil Ansal

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Central Bureau of Investigation to file a report as to why it had not executed the bailable arrest warrants against Uphaar cinema owners, Sushil Ansal and Gopal Ansal, as per the August 13 order.

A three-judge bench of Justices B. N. Agrawal, G. S. Singhvi and J. M. Panchal did not accept the submissions made by senior counsel Abhishek Singhvi on behalf of the two brothers that they were present in the court and there was no need for execution of the warrants.

Justice Agrawal told counsel: “We don’t like this. Just because they are big guns you can’t say warrants will not be executed. Our order must be complied with. We have said that in our order. First, let it be executed. Physical presence is not out concern. It is not a contempt case. They have to take bail from the police after executing the bail bond.”

Senior counsel K. T. S. Tulsi, appearing for Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT), submitted that the Ansal brothers had not been arrested till date despite bailable warrants being issued against them.

Senior counsel Harish Salve, appearing for the CBI explained that the warrant signed by the magistrate concerned was received only on Friday morning and it would be executed today(Friday) itself.

Senior counsel Sushil Kumar, appearing for two ex-managers of the cinema hall, submitted that while CBI did not execute the arrest warrants against the Ansal brothers it had executed the warrants against his clients, Ajit Chowdhary and Nirmal Chopra.

The Bench also issued notice to Mr. Chowdhry and Mr. Chopra in the appeal filed by the CBI seeking cancellation of their bail and posted the case for further hearing on August 29.