New Delhi

Prosecute Ansal brothers afresh: CBI

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation has concluded arguments in the Uphaar fire tragedy case, pleading with the Delhi High Court to order prosecution of the Ansal brothers -- Sushil Ansal and Gopal Ansal -- for culpable homicide not amounting to murder because they knew that deviations in the cinema hall, owned by them, might prove fatal in case of a mishap.

Concluding the arguments, counsel for the investigating agency former Additional Solicitor-General Harish Salve submitted that the Ansal brothers could not absolve themselves of their liability for the tragedy because they were on the board of directors of the company owning the hall, and the deviations in the building were committed when they were on the board.

The two were controlling the administration and finance of the company when the deviations were committed, Mr. Salve submitted.

Counsel for the two brothers have already concluded their arguments. Justice S. Ravindra Bhat has been hearing the appeals by the convicts, including the Ansal brothers, against their conviction in the case in May this year.

As many as 59 visitors, including women and children, were suffocated to death in the fire tragedy while watching the matinee show of the Hindi film “Border” on June 13, 1997.

A trial court here last year had sentenced the two Ansal Brothers to two years’ rigorous imprisonment.

It had also convicted 12 other accused in the case, including employees of the Delhi Fire Service and the then Delhi Electric Supply Undertaking (DESU).

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