As Mr. R.K. Naseem , Advocate for the defence continues his arguments on the Uphaar Cinema case, it is becoming evidently clear day by day as the hearing continues that Mr. Sushil Ansal and Mr. Gopal Ansal who are unduly ‘victimized’.
1. Fire in DVB transformer, not in Uphaar transformer
The biggest truth which may surprise many people is that the transformer that caught fire had no connection with Uphaar Cinema but was owned and maintained solely by DVB and was supplying electricity to Green Park colony. The transformer that supplied electricity to Uphaar Cinema is absolutely intact even today.
2. All Gangways, Seating Arrangements, Exit Doors in order
Another great revelation and truth which will blow out any myth regarding the seating arrangements, gangways and exit doors, etc. which were supposedly not in order, is the proven fact that all arrangements were in total accordance with Delhi Cinematograph Rules, 1953 and were duly inspected by several authorities like PWD, Fire Department, Zonal Health Officer of MCD and other licensing authorities who visited the Cinema Hall several times. Mr. Naseem produced all approvals and legally authorized and sanctioned reports to prove the case.
3. Fire Safety measures in order
The third myth surrounded fire safety measures. Once again it was re-established that all fire safety measures were complete and in working order as firmly reported by the authorities in their reports after which proper licenses have been granted to operate the cinema.
4. Mr. Sushil Ansal and Mr. Gopal Ansal were not the Directors of Uphaar Cinema
The most important fact of all is that Mr. Sushil Ansal or Mr. Gopal Ansal were not the directors of Uphaar Cinema nor were they were representatives on the day of the incident. It was the company that was the owner and not any individual. It is imperative for all to note that Mr. R.K. Naseem, Advocate systematically proved by presentation of documents that Mr. Sushil Ansal had resigned from Directorship in 1988 – 10 years before the incident. The director in fact was Mr. R.M. Puri and the cinema was managed by Mr. K.L. Malhotra. Mr. Ansal had no connection with the day to day management and affairs of the cinema. It was Mr. R.M. Puri who was fully involved. Yet one continues to see and read that Mr. Sushil Ansal was in some way involved with this incident, it seems amazing that inspite of hardcore evidence and documentation provided by Mr. R.K. Naseem to the court, there could be any doubt about the unfortunate victimization of Mr. Sushil Ansal this case.
5. Deviations were not violative of building by-laws
Prosecutions charge that some RS Joists were fixed at 8’ height in the stilt floor, some commercial establishments were operating from cinema hall, cars were parked in stilt floor, were all proved to be incorrect as the above deviations are illegally permitted. Few partition walls were in the basement though it was being used for cycle, scooter & auto-rickshaw parking
Mr. naseem went through each point of the above charges and through documentary evidence of building by-laws and prosecution witnesses, proved that the above are as per building by-laws and not violative of the building by-laws
6. Mr. Sushil Ansal was not the licensee
License of the cinema was in the name of the company and not Mr. Sushil Ansal. The person representing the license was Mr. R.M.Puri/Mr. K.L.Malhotra.
We must all wake up to the truth of the matter! It may not be sensational, it may not involve known personalities. It may not grab sensation-loving audiences. But the truth is the truth especially with proved hard evidences in court, makes one think whether we have unnecessarily maligned the Ansals in the Uphaar Cinema cases. How can ex-director be dragged in the matter like criminal cases?
