Uphar Cinema Fire: SC Orders Jail For Builder Gopal Ansal
NEW DELHI : One of the two Ansal brothers, who built and operated Delhi’s Uphaar cinema, must go to jail within four weeks, the Supreme Court ruled today. He has reportedly been given a year-long sentence.
In 2007, a fire at the cinema left 59 people dead. Most of them choked to death after being trapped in the balcony. Basic fire safety rules had been broken – exit routes had been blocked to add more seats.The cinema was owned by Gopal and Sushil Ansal.
The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered Gopal Ansal, convicted for June 13, 1997, Uphaar fire tragedy in which 59 people lost their lives, to serve one year jail sentence, of which he had already served four months.
The top court, by its 2015 verdict had enhanced the sentence to two years – the maximum under Indian Penal Code’s Section 304 (Causing death by negligence). But the top court had also let them off by asking the brothers to pay Rs 30 crore each, coupled with the sentence they have already undergone.
The verdict created uproar as Ansal brothers had individually undergone just five to six months imprisonment each. They were awarded two years sentence by the trial court but the Delhi High Court by its December 19, 2008, verdict had reduced the sentence to one year. Over 100 were also injured in the subsequent stampede.
