Victim of Uphaar tragedy outraged at Sushil Ansal leaving the country

Neelam Krishnamurti a victim herself of the Uphaar tragedy, on Wednesday, expressed her outrage over the manner in which Sushil Ansal, whom she held responsible for the June 13, 1997 tragedy, has managed to go abroad.

She said that Ansal's exit from the country showed a complete disregard of the Supreme Court's order, especially when he himself had given an undertaking to abide by the court's order to inform it if he was leaving the country.

"The court was very upset, and they specifically told Ram Jethmalani, who is appearing on behalf of Ansals, that knowing very well that your client has been convicted by this honourable court, he should come to seek permission before leaving the country. That's why they have posted the matter until 15th of April and he has been asked to give an undertaking. He has given an undertaking to the court that he will be back on the night of 11th of April. Very honestly speaking, that yesterday Sunil Ansal has given an undertaking in the trial court that he will abide by the Supreme Court's directions and what he has done is strange," Krishnamurti, said.

The Supreme Court has expressed displeasure over real estate baron Sushil Ansal, convicted in Uphaar fire case, leaving the country without its permission. The apex court, however, allowed Ansal to stay abroad for medical treatment after he gave an assurance that he will return on April 11.

On March 5, the court held the Ansals guilty in the 1997 tragedy saying they were more interested about making money than ensuring safety of cinegoers.

An application had been moved in the Supreme Court seeking to restrict the right of real estate baron Sushil Ansal, who is convicted in the 1997 Uphaar cinema fire tragedy, to travel abroad on medical grounds without its permission.

The application, filed by the Association of Victims of Uphaar Fire Tragedy (AVUT) was mentioned before the bench of Chief Justice P Sathasivam which assigned it to the bench headed by Justice T S Thakur that had upheld the conviction of Sushil and Gopal Ansal for the tragedy that claimed the lives of 59 people.

While Justice Thakur retained one-year jail term of Sushil and Gopal Ansal as imposed by the Delhi high court, Justice Misra reduced the jail term to already undergone by Sushil considering his age but enhanced the sentence of Gopal to two years.

Justice Misra also imposed a fine of Rs 100 crore on the Ansal brothers to be used for construction of trauma centre and super-speciality hospital.