A Delhi court on Thursday rejected CBI's report giving a clean chit to former IPS officer Amod Kanth in Uphaar cinema hall fire tragedy, saying there was sufficient evidence to prosecute him for allowing extra seats in the hall where 59 movie-watchers died in a blaze in 1997.
"The investigation report of CBI is hereby rejected. Let the summons be issued against Amod Kanth for August 20," the metropolitan magistrate, Mr Sanjeev Kumar, said.
The court said there was sufficient material to prosecute Kanth under section 304A (causing death by rash and negligent act), 337 (causing hurt by an act which endangers human life) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by an act which endangers human life) of IPC.
The court also observed that there were prima-facie evidence to prosecute Kanth under the Cinematograph Act.
Reacting to the order, Mr Neelam Krishnamurthy, President of Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT), said "our stand has been vindicated. It was a long overdue decision against the errant police officer."