Uphaar Cinema, owned by Ansal brothers Gopal and Sushil, had caught fire in 1997 during the screening of the movie ‘Border’
Enraged at the “leniency” shown by the Supreme Court, the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) has petitioned the court to dismiss Sushil Ansal’s review petition, and direct him to surrender to serve the remainder of his sentence.
Uphaar Cinema, owned by Ansal brothers Gopal and Sushil, had caught fire in 1997 during the screening of the movie ‘Border’. As many as 59 people had died in the incident. On February 9, the SC sentenced Gopal, 68, to a one-year jail term, while the sentence of Sushil, 76, was commuted to time served, due to his “advanced age” .
In its petition, AVUT stated: “It is most respectfully submitted that no evidence or material was ever placed on record, either in the course of the appeals or the review petitions, by Sushil Ansal, which suggests that he is having any medical complication(s).”
The SC had directed Gopal to surrender before the relevant authorities by March 9. Since then, Senior Counsel Ram Jethmalani, representing Gopal, has been approaching the top court, seeking a withdrawal of the order on grounds of parity with his brother.
Speaking to DNA, Neelam Krishnamoorthy, the face of the families fighting for justice, said: “If Gopal seeks parity, we seek it as well. We want to be heard and submit our arguments on why Sushil should be jailed as well.” Krishnamoorthy lost her daughter, 17, and son, 13, in the fire.
The five-page AVUT petition further read: “The respondents are healthy and in a good condition to travel abroad, as they have been doing frequently. This further suggests that they are not suffering from any medical complications to warrant any indulgence.”
THE TIMELINE OF A TRAGEDY
Jun 13, 1997
59 people die of asphyxiation and more than 100 are injured when a fire breaks out in south Delhi’s Uphaar cinema. CBI files chargesheet against 16 accused, including Sushil and Gopal Ansal on Nov 15 of the same year.
Nov 20, 2007
Court convicts 12 accused and sentences them to two years in jail.
Jan 4, 2008
Ansal brothers and two other accused get bail.
Mar 5, 2014
SC holds Ansals guilty of criminal negligence.
Feb 9, 2017
SC orders one-year in jail for Gopal and Sushil is exempted because of his age.
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