Uphaar fire tragedy: SC sentences Gopal Ansal to one year jail, lets off brother Sushil over old age

Nearly 20 years after the Uphaar theatre fire tragedy, which had killed 59 people in 1997, the Supreme Court on Thursday sentenced Gopal Ansal to one year in jail. However, his brother Sushil Ansal has been spared jail time owing to his old age.

The bench comprising justices Ranjan Gogoi, Kurian Joseph and Adarsh Kumar Goel ordered Gopal to surrender within four weeks.

Uphar cinema matter: SC orders Gopal Ansal to serve one year jail sentence, of which he had already served four months

— ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2017

Uphar cinema matter: Review petitions of Association of the Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) and CBI were not allowed by SC

— ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2017

The verdict was in response to a plea filed by the CBI and Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) to review its 19 August, 2015, judgement asking real estate barons Sushil and Gopal Ansal to serve a two-year jail term if they fail to pay Rs 30 crore each as fine within three months. The Uphaar fire tragedy took place on 13 June, 1997, during the screening of Bollywood movie Border, in the capital’s upscale Green Park area. It is to be noted that the brothers have already paid the fine. Meanwhile, the AVUT has expressed its disappointment over the apex court judgement. Speaking to ANI, Neelam Krishnamoorthy said, “Extremely disappointed, biggest mistake in my life was coming to court. (I have) lost faith in judiciary.” She added that she feels letdown by the court, as the “rich and powerful enjoy special powers”.

We don't give a damn about the trauma centre. I should've shot these people the day my children died: Neelam Krishnamoorthy,AVUT #UpharCase pic.twitter.com/st5WDb6dPp

— ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2017

The Ansal brothers were sentenced to two years in jail by a trial court in 2007. However, the next year, the Delhi court reduced the jail term to just one year.

With inputs from PTI