SC grants bail to Uphaar Cinema tragedy accused

SC on Monday grants bail to DC Sharma, a dismissed court record keeper charged with destroying vital evidence to help some of the key accused in the tragedy.

The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to DC Sharma, a dismissed court record keeper charged with destroying vital evidence to help some of the key accused in the 1997 Uphaar Cinema tragedy in which 59 people were killed in a fire mishap.

A Bench of Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan, Justices RV Raveendran and Lokeswar Singh Panta, were granted bail despite opposition from the Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam, who argued against granting any relief to the accused.

The apex court said the original order passed by the trial court on December 4, 2006 granting bail to the accused would stand revived.

The Delhi High Court had earlier rejected the accused's petition challenging the cancellation of the bail by the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate.

Sharma, was initially granted bail by the trial court on December 4, but on an application moved by the Delhi Police his bail was cancelled on December 23 leading to his re-arrest.

The bail was cancelled on the allegations of the Delhi Police that Sharma has secured a job in a private security agency of the Ansals, the prime accused in the case who reportedly owned the theatre at the time of the fire mishap.

Besides it was also stated that Sharma had obtained housing loan from a private bank at the instance of the Ansals.

HT Image