Uphaar tragedy: Ansal brothers appeal against 7-year imprisonment

New Delhi, Nov 10 (UNI): The convicts in the Uphaar tragedy, Sushil and Gopal Ansal and PP Bhatt, have appealed in the court of the additional sessions judge against the seven-year prison sentence in the case related to tampering with the crucial evidence in the 1997 fire tragedy.

The court of Additional Sessions Judge Anil Antil on Wednesday issued notices to the parties concerned and posted the matter for hearing on November 15.

On November 8, the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pankaj Sharma had given a sentence of seven years’ imprisonment along with a heavy fine to five, including the Ansal brothers. The Ansal brothers were sentenced to imprisonment under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including tampering with evidence. Fine of Rs 2.25 crore each was also imposed.

Bollywood film ‘Border’ was being screened on June 13, 1997, at Uphaar cinema in the posh Green Park area of South Delhi when a fire broke out. In the accident, 59 people were killed and about 100 were injured. Many died due to a stampede.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probed the matter and filed a charge sheet in the court. During the trial in the lower court, the prosecution came to know that many sensitive documents related to the investigation of the case in the court’s record room were missing and were tampered with. After the complaint of the prosecution, the court constituted a separate investigation team in this case and on the basis of its investigation report, court employee Dinesh Chand Sharma was dismissed and a separate FIR was registered.

The Supreme Court had sentenced the Ansal brothers to two years’ imprisonment. The top court had ordered the release of the Ansal brothers after payment of a fine of Rs 30 crore each by the Ansals.