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Court was told that as the trial in the main case was over, the cinema hall, which was sealed nearly 17 years ago, should be de-sealed.
The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed Ansal Theatres, to move an application before the concerned trial court for de-sealing of the theatre hall and other premises.
A bench of Justices KM Joseph, BV Nagarathna and Ahsanuddin Amanullah has added that said application will be dealt with by the trial court within ten weeks.
Ansal Theaters and Club hotels Pvt. Ltd. had moved the Top Court seeking the de-sealing of the theatre, wherein last week the Court had also sought a reply from the CBI.
In the plea moved in 2010, it was stated that even after the victims were paid the compensation due, the theatre and its premises were not returned to them.
Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj appearing for the Delhi Police and the Central Bureau of Investigation told the Supreme Court that the agencies had no claim over the property.
In 1997, at least 59 people died of asphyxiation and over 100 others were injured in a stampede after a fire broke out in Uphaar cinema hall on June 13, 1997, during the screening of JP Dutta's film 'Border'.
In February last year, the Delhi High Court had rejected petitions moved by businessmen Sushil and Gopal Ansal in the Uphaar evidence tampering case against 7 years imprisonment and fine of Rs. 2.25 crore each awarded by a lower court in Delhi.
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court on November 8, 2021, had sentenced them for 7 years imprisonment and imposed Rs 2.25-crore fine each on Sushil and Gopal Ansal for tampering with evidence.
The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court while passing the order also said, "After thinking over nights and nights, I have come to the conclusion that they deserve punishment."
In the matter, the Court had earlier convicted businessmen Sushil Ansal and Gopal Ansal and two employees among others in the case related to tampering with crucial evidence in the 1997 Uphaar fire tragedy case. The Court convicted all the accused under sections 409, 201, 120B of IPC.
Case Title: Ansal Theatres And Clubotels P. Ltd. vs. State of NCT
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