New Delhi:
The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued a notice to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on an application filed by Ansal brothers, owners of Uphaar Cinema, seeking permission for ",productive use", of the hall which was sealed after a fire tragedy which left 59 cinegoers dead 11 years ago.
Issuing notice to the investigating agency on an application filed by the hall owners, Justice H R Malhotra sought its reply by April 28.
Theatre owners Sushil and Gopal Ansal, sentenced to two years jail term by the trial court for causing death due to a negligent act, said in their application that the property should be handed over to them as the trial in the fire tragedy case was over.
The Ansal brothers said the hall has not been used for several years and they want to put the cinema hall to ",productive use.",
",We have been deprived of running our business by putting the property to any productive use,", the Ansals contended and said the revenue collected from the hall would also contribute to the government exchequer.
At least 59 people died due to asphyxia following a fire caused by sparking in a transformer, installed in the basement, on June 13, 1999.
In December last year, the trial court had sentenced five persons including the Ansal brothers to two-year jail term for the negligent act.
The court also sentenced seven others to seven years jail for committing the offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
All 12 convicts have filed their appeal before the High Court which is pending for final argument.