Ansals behind bars

Eleven years after they were accused of criminal negligence in one of the most protracted legal battles the Uphaar tragedy case real estate barons Gopal and Sushil Ansal finally went behind the bars.

The two brothers managed to evade the prison all these years but their bail plea was cancelled by the Supreme Court on Wednesday after the apex court observed: "Tampering with court records is a serious offence, worse than murder and dacoity.

"Elated victims

The words have given new strength to the Association of the Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) with its chief Neelam Krishnamoorthy saying, "Finally the fight which we started a decade ago reached its conclusion. We are really happy."

The Ansal brothers entered the Patiala House Courts in the afternoon when the time given to them to surrender was about to expire. They surrendered before additional session judge (ASJ) I K Kochar who sent them to 14-days judicial custody.

Two managers of the theatre, Ajit Chaudhary and Nirmal Singh Chopra, were also sent to judicial custody. The accused were taken into the custody by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) immediately on the conclusion of the surrender formality.

Free birds

In last 11 years the two main accused managed to stay out of the jail for almost the entire period. Though Sushil served a 40-day prison term, his younger brother Gopal has managed to stay out. Though no family member of the Ansals was present, families of the victims were in the court premises since morning and were looking apprently pleased.

Convicted

The Ansal brothers, who remained out on bail during the trial in the 11-year-old case, were sentenced to two years jail term on November 23, last year, after being convicted under a milder penal section 304A (causing death by rash and negligent acts) of the IPC.

The tragedy

At least 59 people, including 22 children, were killed and over 100 injured in the fire in Uphaar cinema hall during the screening of J P Dutta's multi-starrer Border.

The victims choked to death when a short circuit caused the blaze. The people in the balcony stood no chance. Exit routes had been blocked to squeeze in a few extra seats. The Ansals were sentenced to two years in prison but were later granted bail.

Missing link

It was immediately challenged by the families of victims, who said the sentence was a joke.

The evidence that the Ansals are accused of destroying documents that prove they were involved in the day-to-day running of the theatre was a concerted attempt to distance themselves from the tragedy.

The documents were filed in court but went missing almost five years ago.

Source: http://www.mid-day.com/news/2008/sep/120908-Ansals-behind-bars-Uphaar-tragedy.htm