New Delhi: On Monday, a trial court started the final hearing of the case. Additional Sessions Judge Mamta Sehgal, who visited the Uphaar Cinema Complex in August on the directions of the Delhi High Court, will hear arguments relating to the case till September 28.
Sehgal had visited the site of the tragedy alongwith a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team. The defence evidence in the case was closed on August two.
It's been nine years since the Uphaar cinema fire tragedy and justice is nowhere in sight for the families of victims who perished.
The tragedy, that took place on June 13, 1997, left 59 people - who had come to for the screening of the war film Border - dead and over 100 injured.
Of the 16 accused, four have died during the trial's pendency.
According to Sehgal's report, there was no proper passage on the right side of the balcony, the balcony's exit door lock was half detached, exhaust fans area was blocked with cardboard and an eight-seater box was recovered in the balcony of the hall.
The arguments in the case will primarily be based on the testimonies of the 191 witnesses recorded by the court.
The trial court had framed charges against 16 accused, including the proprietors of Ansals Properties, Sushil Ansal and Gopal Ansal.
Sushil and Gopal Ansal have been charged offences under Sections 304 A (causing death by negligence), 33 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and relevant provisions of the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
In 2003, the Delhi High Court had ordered a payment of Rs, 15 lakh to the relatives of each of the victims who were less than 20 years at the time of tragedy and Rs 18 lakh to those who were above 20 years.
There is a Dabwali Fire Victims Association, but it lacks the aggression and determination that ensured speedy justice for the Uphaar cinema victims.
(With inputs from ANI)
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