New Delhi, June 1: In a significant development related to the Uphaar Cinema fire case of 1997, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has withdrawn its closure report against former IPS officer Amod Kanth. Following this decision, the CBI submitted a detailed status report to the Rouse Avenue Court regarding the case.
The CBI’s status report indicates that a petition has been filed by the Uphaar Victims Association in the Delhi High Court. The petition requests the court to present documents related to prosecution approval from the central government and the CBI, and to reconsider the entire issue. It also highlights that several crucial aspects have been overlooked in the investigation and prosecution process.
The CBI informed the court that the Delhi High Court had previously suspended the hearing on this petition, filed on June 29, 2019, indefinitely. However, a recent order on April 23 directed the CBI to file a status report on the matter, which the agency has now complied with.
The next hearing in the Delhi High Court regarding this case is scheduled for July 6, where further legal clarity is expected.
Previously, the CBI had filed a closure report in a 2009 case related to Amod Kanth, which was also met with opposition, raising questions about the investigation process from various parties.
The Uphaar fire incident, considered one of the most severe industrial disasters in the country, has been undergoing various stages of judicial and investigative processes for a long time. This latest development has once again brought the case into the spotlight, with all eyes on the forthcoming legal proceedings.