Uphaar cinema tragedy: SC says Ansal shouldn't have left country

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today expressed displeasure over real estate baron and convict in Uphaar fire tragedy case Sushil Ansal leaving the country without taking its permission. A bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam said the case is pending in the Supreme Court and he should not have left the country without its permission. “Our grievance is that they (Ansal and his lawyers) know the matter is still pending and he did not take the apex court in confidence before leaving the country,” the bench said. [caption id=“attachment_145144” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  The Uphaar fire was allegedly caused due to negligence. Reuters[/caption] The bench, however, allowed Ansal to stay in the US for medical treatment after senior advocate Ram Jethmalani, appearing for Ansal, gave an assurance that he will return on 11 April. The bench said Ansal’s counsel should have adviced him to take permission from the apex court before going abroad. The bench was hearing an application filed by the Association of Victims of Uphaar Fire Tragedy (AVUT) seeking to restrict the right of Sushil Ansal to travel abroad on medical grounds without its permission. AVUT submitted that Sushil Ansal had on 24 March sought permission of the trial court for personal exemption to appear in a case of alleged tampering of evidence arising out of the main case of Uphaar fire tragedy. He has sought permission to travel to USA for undergoing treatment of Hepatitis C, it said. The Association contended that since Ansals have been convicted by the apex court, they cannot leave the country without the permission of the top court. Further, it sought imposition of suitable conditions on the bail enjoyed by Ansals as no conditions were stipulated when they were granted bail on 30 30 January, 2009. The apex court on 5 March, held Ansals guilty in the 1997 tragedy, saying they were more interested about making money than ensuring safety of the cinegoers. The court had upheld the conviction of Sushil and Gopal Ansal for the tragedy that claimed the lives of 59 people. PTI