Supreme Court grants Ansal brothers permission to file application to de-seal Uphaar Cinemas[Uphaar fire tragedy]

On Thursday, the Supreme Court granted the Ansal brothers permission to file an application to de-seal the Uphaar Cinemas. A bench of Justices KM Joseph, BV Nagarathna and Ahsanuddin Amanullah directed the concerned trial court to decide on the matter within ten weeks.

The Uphaar Cinema fire tragedy occurred on June 13, 1997, resulting in 59 deaths and numerous injuries. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted an investigation and submitted a chargesheet against Sushil Ansal, Gopal Ansal, and other accused.

In 2015, the Supreme Court found the Ansal brothers guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder in the main case. Initially, the pair were sentenced to the period already served and a fine of ₹30 crore. Later, a review petition resulted in Gopal Ansal being sent back to jail for a year, while Sushil Ansal was given a reprieve due to his advanced age. The Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) filed a curative petition against this order, but it was rejected.

In September 2022, the Delhi High Court issued notice to the State government and the two brothers on a plea by AVUT challenging the Ansal's early release in an evidence-tampering case related to the tragedy.

The Uphaar Cinema fire tragedy is a heartbreaking event that has had a lasting impact on the victims and their families. The Supreme Court's decision to allow the Ansal brothers to file an application to de-seal the cinemas is a step in the right direction, and it is hoped that justice will be served in accordance with the law.

Case: Ansal Theatres and Clubotels P. Ltd. vs. State through CBI

Counsel for Applicant: Adv. Sanjay Jain

Counsel for Opposite Party: Adv. Arvind Kumar Sharma

Order Date: 27.04.2023 

Read Order: Not Available