Uphaar tragedy: Ansals get 2 yrs imprisonment

Real estate barons Sushil and Gopal Ansal were on Friday awarded a two-year jail term each for causing death by negligent act in the case pertaining to the 1997 Uphaar fire tragedy, which claimed 59 lives.

Additional Sessions Judge Mamta Sehgal also handed down two-year jail terms to Municipal Corporation of Delhi officials -- Shyam Sunder Sharma and N D Tiwari -- and Delhi Fire Service Officer H S Panwar for similar offences.

Seven others -- four Uphaar employees and three DVB officials -- received seven-year rigorous imprisonment each for culpable homicide not amounting to murder in the case.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 each on all the 12 convicts.

The court granted bail to the Ansal brothers on a personal and a surety bond of Rs 25,000 each. Two MCD officials and a Delhi Fire Service staff also got bail on personal and surety bonds of Rs 6,000 each.

The remaining seven convicts were taken into custody.

The court has directed the CBI to conduct a fresh inquiry against the then DCP (Licensing) Amod Kanth and other public servants for their alleged role in granting sanctions to run Uphaar cinema.

The Central Bureau of Investigation had on Thursday vehemently opposed the plea of the 12 convicts -- held guilty in the Uphaar fire tragedy case -- asking to be released on probation, and sought maximum penalty prescribed under the penal provision.

The court had on November 20 convicted Sushil and Gopal Ansal, two MCD officials and Delhi Fire Service officer under Sections 304A and 337 and 338 of the IPC, which pertain to endangering human lives.

Seven others, including those responsible for managing day-to-day affairs of Uphaar and three Delhi Vidyut Board officials, were convicted for graver charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 of the IPC, entailing maximum punishment of life term.