Upar Tragedy: Gopal Ansal to surrender tomorrow

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered real estate entrepreneur Gopal Ansal to surrender tomorrow in connection with the Uphaar fire tragedy case.

Earlier this week, the apex court fixed Ansal's plea seeking modification of its review order on parity in connection with the case for March 8.

Ansal has in his plea requested to be treated at par with his elder brother Sushil, who was allowed to skip prison citing old age and ill-health.

The apex court sentenced Ansal to a one-year jail term on February 9.

The review petitions of the Association of the Victims of Uphaar Tragedy ( AVUT) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) were dismissed by the court.

Founder association of victims of the Uphaar tragedy, Neelam Krishnamoorthy, asserted that Ansal has been trying to delay the process of surrendering from a very long time.

"For the last ten days, Ansal has been trying to delay and derail the process of surrendering. Whenever his date comes for surrendering, he makes an excuse to seek extension. Today also, it was another attempt by his counsel to make sure that this matter is posted after Holi break, but thankfully the court has refused it and has posted for tomorrow morning 10:30," Neelam told ANI.

"As parents we have fought to get justice and after doing so much we have to face such hurdles. People like them with power and money can easily take advantage and change dates every time," she added while expressing anguish over the matter.

At least 59 people died of asphyxia and over 100 others were injured in the stampede after fire broke out in Uphaar cinema on June 13, 1997, during the screening of J.P. Dutta's film "Border.