NEW DELHI: Stating that Ansal brothers have also suffered and the court has to consider their age, a Delhi court on Tuesday ordered the release of real estate tycoons Sushil and Gopal Ansal against the jail term already undergone by them in a case of tampering with evidence related to the 1997 Uphaar Cinema fire tragedy.
A magisterial court had on November 8 last year awarded seven-year jail terms to the real estate barons and since then they had been in prison. District Judge Dharmesh Sharma on Tuesday, however, upheld the fine of Rs 2.25 crore imposed on each Sushil and Gopal Ansal by the magisterial court earlier.
“We empathise with you (Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy chairperson Neelam Krishnamoorti). Many lives were lost, which can never be compensated. But you must understand that penal policy is not about retribution. We have to consider their (Ansals) age. You have suffered, but they have also suffered,” the judge said.
The court had dismissed the appeal filed by the real estate barons and two others challenging their conviction by the magisterial court on Monday. After the order was pronounced, Krishnamoorti told the judge that the order was “injustice”. “This is complete injustice. We cannot have faith in the judiciary if the accused is rich and powerful. I made a mistake by coming to court. The system is corrupt,” Krishnamoorti told the judge and left the courtroom.
While upholding the conviction of Ansals, the court had, however, on Monday acquitted one co-accused, Anup Singh, in the case and granted him bail. The case is related to tampering with the evidence in the main fire tragedy case in which the Ansals were convicted and sentenced to a 2-year jail term by the Supreme Court.
Months after 7-year jail terms were awarded to Ansal brothers, their release has been upheld by court. A timeline of the case: