Uphaar Cinema Case: Delhi HC Rejects Ansal Brothers' Plea For Suspension Of Jail Term 

In November last year, the trial court had awarded Ansal brothers seven years imprisonment.

Delhi High Court

New Delhi: Plea for suspension of seven-year jail term awarded to Sushil Ansal and Gopal Ansal was rejected by the Delhi High Court Today. The case is related to tampering with evidence in the 1997 Uphaar cinema fire which had claimed 59 lives. 

The bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad passed the judgement saying, "As far as Ansal brothers are concerned, I am rejecting their application."

In November last year, the trial court had awarded Ansal brothers seven years imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs 2.25 crore each on the brothers for tampering with evidence..

Seven other accused, Dinesh Chand Sharma - former court staff - PP Batra, Har Swaroop Panwar, Anoop Singh, and Dharamvir Malhotra were also booked in the case. Two accused Har Swaroop Panwar and Dharamvir Malhotra died during the course of trial. 

While passing the order, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court of Pankaj Sharma had said, "After thinking over nights and nights, I have come to the conclusion that they deserve punishment."

All seven accused were found guilty under sections 409, 201, 120B of Indian Penal Code (IPC) by the trial court.

The tragic Uphaar cinema incident happened on June 13, 1997, during the screening of JP Dutta's film 'Border'. The fire in the cinema hall claimed at least 59 lives all of whom died to asphyxia.