Uphaar tragedy: SC reduces Gopal Ansal jail term to 1 year

SC also directed Gopal Ansal to surrender within four weeks to serve the remaining jail term.

New Delhi, Feb 9: The Supreme Court on Thursday sentenced real estate baron Gopal Ansal to serve one year jail sentence in connection with the Uphaar fire tragedy case, of which he had already served four months.

SC also directed Gopal Ansal to surrender within four weeks to serve the remaining jail term. Sushil Ansal, who was also convicted in the case, had already undergone his jail sentence.

Speaking to ANI, the Association of the Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) chairperson Neelam Krishnamoorthy said that she is extremely disappointed and the biggest mistake in her life was coming to court. She further said, ''Lost faith in judiciary. Have been let down very badly, a futile exercise. Rich and powerful enjoy special powers.''

Earlier, the court had on Aug 19 said Sushil (76) and Gopal Ansal (67) should pay a fine of Rs 30 crore each within three months and restricted their jail term to the period already undergone by them in view of their advanced age.

Fifty-nine people, trapped in the balcony of the theatre in South Delhi, had died of asphyxia following the fire and over 100 were injured in the subsequent stampede on June 13, 1997 during the screening of Bollywood film 'Border'.

OneIndia News