SC unhappy over Sushil Ansal leaving country

The Supreme Court Wednesday expressed its displeasure over Sushil Ansal going to the US for treatment without taking a prior nod from the court before which the Uphaar fire tragedy case is pending.

Taking serious note of Ansal - a convict in Uphaar fire tragedy case - leaving the country without the court's consent, the apex court bench of Chief Justice P. Sathasivam, Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice N.V. Ramana directed him to appear before the court April 15.

The court passed its order after senior counsel Ram Jethmalani, appearing for Ansal, gave an undertaking that his client will return to the country April 11.

The apex court bench of Justice T.S. Thakur and Justice Gyan Sudha Misra while upholding the conviction of Ansal brothers - Sushil and Gopal - had differed on the quantum of sentence to be imposed on them and thus the entire matter was referred to a third judge for decision.

The court was moved by the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy and senior counsel K.T.S.Tulsi appeared for it.

The Uphaar fire tragedy saw 59 people killed due to asphyxiation after a fire broke out in the transformer room of the cinema hall emitting toxic gases. People could not escape as the exit door of the cinema hall was closed and there was only one door to get out from.

While the trial court convicted Ansal brothers and others under Section 403 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced them to two years each, the high court by its Dec 19, 2008, verdict convicted them under Section 304A (causing death due to rash and negligent acts) and reduced their sentence to one year each. The trial court verdict came Nov 20, 2007.