Court defers verdict in Uphaar fire tragedy

NEW DELHI: Family members of the Uphaar tragedy victims suffered a blow on Wednesday when a lower court judge not only postponed the much-awaited verdict by more than a month but also gave special privileges to the accused.

The Ansals, the main accused in the case, along with officials of Delhi Vidyut Board (DVB) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), got reprieve from the court for a few days as the court postponed the verdict till October 22.

“We were expecting that the court will postpone the verdict because it is a voluminous judgment. But we never imagined that the court would accept the Ansals' plea and direct the Delhi police not to allow any mediapersons inside the court room when the verdict is pronounced,” said Neelam Krishnamurti, who spearheaded agitation against the accused for over 10 years.

“We have lost our children in that accident and have waited for over 10 years now. We have no option but to wait a few days more for the verdict,” she added.

About 59 people were killed during the screening of the film, Border, at Uphaar theatre on June 13, 1997. The CBI had found major lapses on the part of the Ansals, DVB and MCD for not making adequate fire safety arrangements and illegally increasing the number of seats in the theatre.