A New Delhi Sessions court has awarded two years’ rigorous imprisonment (RI) to Sushil Ansal and Gopal Ansal, proprietors of Uphaar cinema, for criminal negligence that led to an inferno in the cinema hall killing 59 people and injuring over 100 others in June 1997.  

While the convicts will not be taken into the prison immediately as they were granted bail, the court has ordered a fresh CBI probe against the then DCP (Licensing) Amod Kanth and other government officials for their alleged role in allowing the Uphaar cinema to operate even without adequate provisions.

The Sessions court judge Mamta Sehgal granted bails after the Ansal brothers furnished surety bond of Rs 25,000 each in the case. Seven other convicts, who were also held guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, were awarded seven years' rigorous imprisonment and taken into custody soon after the sentence announced. These convicts include Radha Krishan Sharma, N S Chopra, Ajit Chowdhary (Uphaar managers), Manmohan Unniyal (cinema's gatekeeper), Brij Mohan Satija, AK Gera and Bir Singh (all Delhi Vidyut Board officials). Of the 12 convicted in the case, three others were also awarded two years' jail term each, but were granted bail.

Even two Delhi Municipal Corporation officials S S Sharma and N D Tiwari and Delhi Fire Service staff H S Panwar, who got two-year jail terms, were granted bail on a personal and surety bond of Rs 6,000 each.

Not content with the verdict, the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) has said that it will approach the Delhi High Court against the two-year jail terms awarded to Uphaar cinema owners Sushil and Gopal Ansal. Besides, the AVUT is also annoyed with the fact that the two brothers were granted bail soon after the verdict.

Reacting to the verdict, AVUT chief Neelam Krishnamurthy said that it was very painful to see the Ansals walking out. She said that for the last 10 years, they have worked hard and attended thousands of hearings. Describing the verdict as frustrating, she said that they would now move the Delhi High Court praying for harsher punishments for the convicts.