Panic grips Delhi's Select Citywalk Mall as fire breaks out at cinema hall; none injured
New Delhi: A fire broke out at a cinema hall in Select Citywalk Mall here on Wednesday evening due to a short circuit during the screening of a movie, an official said.
Panic gripped cinemagoers as a corner of the movie screen of PVR Cinemas at the mall caught fire during the 4:15 pm screening of the film 'Chhava', a witness told PTI.
Another person said as fire alarms started ringing in the hall, everybody rushed to the exit doors. The cinema hall was evacuated, he said.
An officer of Delhi Fire Services said they received a call about the fire at 5.42 pm and six fire tenders were rushed to the spot. However, it was a small fire and no one was injured, he said, adding the blaze was contained by 5.55 pm.
Delhi Police said they received a call about the fire at 5.57 pm from Saket Citywalk Mall.
"We got a call about the fire and the caller informed police that some people are trapped inside. Teams were immediately rushed to the spot and the flames were doused. No one was injured due to the fire," police in a statement said.
A minor short circuit at PVR Saket led to the small fire but there was no damage and the situation was quickly brought under control, it added.
A spokesperson of Select Citywalk Mall said, "We are aware of the short circuit incident which happened at the adjoining multiplex. We are assisting the multiplex team and the authorities, and extending full cooperation to them. There was no harm to any human life. Routine operations at Nexus Select Citywalk remain unaffected."
Veer Singh, who was watching the movie when the fire broke out, told PTI that he initially thought it was a scene from the movie.
"When people realised that the fire broke out inside the hall and smoke was billowing, people started screaming. It was a small fire. As the fire alarm went off, cinema hall staff came in and asked everyone to leave quickly," he said.
VIDEO | A fire broke out at a cinema hall in Delhi's Select CityWalk Mall during the screening of the film 'Chhava' earlier today. As fire alarms started ringing in the hall, everybody rushed to the exit doors. The cinema hall was evacuated.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 26, 2025
(Source: Third Party)
(Full video… pic.twitter.com/eAqcJ7WzND
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
BCI urges CJI to take action against Andhra HC judge for sending young lawyer to 24-hour custody
New Delhi (PTI): The Bar Council of India on Wednesday sought the urgent intervention of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant following a "deeply disturbing" incident where a judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court reportedly sent a young advocate to
24-hour judicial custody over a procedural lapse.
The Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairperson and senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra, in a formal representation, termed the conduct of Justice Tarlada Rajasekhar Rao "grossly inappropriate" and "damaging to the confidence of the Bar".
“I most respectfully request your Lordship to kindly take immediate institutional cognizance of the matter and call for the video recording of the proceedings, the order passed, and the surrounding circumstances.
“I further request that appropriate administrative action may kindly be considered, including withdrawal of judicial work from the learned Judge pending review, his immediate transfer to some far off High Court, and his nomination for appropriate judicial training/orientation on court management, judicial temperament, Bar-Bench relations, and proportional exercise of contempt/judicial authority,” Mishra wrote.
This representation is made to preserve the “dignity, moral authority and public confidence of the judiciary”, he said, adding, “Judges command the highest respect not by fear, but by fairness, patience, restraint and constitutional humility”.
The communication urged the CJI to intervene at the earliest to ensure that the faith of Bar, particularly young advocates, in the protective and corrective role of the judiciary is restored.
The controversy stems from proceedings on May 5.
According to the BCI, a video circulating online shows Justice Rao rebuking a young advocate who was unable to produce a specific order copy during a hearing.
The letter said that despite the advocate "repeatedly seeking pardon and mercy" and claiming he was in physical pain, the judge remained "unmoved".
The judge allegedly told the lawyer, "now you will learn," and mocked his experience before directing the Registrar and police personnel to take him into custody for 24 hours.
The BCI chairperson said that the judge’s actions lacked proportionality and fairness.
"The dignity of the court is not enhanced when a lawyer is made to beg for grace in open court and is still sent to custody for a procedural lapse," the letter said.
"A young lawyer... is an officer of the Court, still learning, still growing, and entitled to correction without humiliation," it added.
The bar body said that such actions create a "chilling effect" on the legal fraternity, particularly among junior members, and undermine the mutual respect required between the Bench and the Bar.
