New Delhi, September 11
As per the Supreme Court’s order quashing their bail yesterday, Sushil Ansal and Gopal Ansal, owners of Uphaar Theatre in South Delhi and convicts in the Uphaar fire tragedy case, surrendered this evening before the CBI special court, which sent them to judicial custody.
CBI special judge I. K. Johar sent the brothers to judicial custody till the time their appeal is heard against their conviction for lapses that led to the Uphaar tragedy. The development comes nearly a month after the Supreme Court on August 13 issued bailable warrants against Sushil and Gopal who were convicted and sentenced to two years in the Uphaar fire tragedy which claimed 59 lives in June 1997. Along with the two brothers, the apex court had also cancelled the bail of two former managers of the theatre, Ajit Chaudhary and N.S. Chopra.
The bail of the convicts was cancelled by the SC on a petition filed by the Association of the Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT), challenging the order of the Delhi High Court.
AVUT president Neelam Krishnamoorthy has contended that the two brothers, out on bail, were manipulating the judicial system and causing delay in disposal of their appeal by the high court. "We are happy that finally our fight for justice has reached its conclusion," said Neelam Krishnamoorthy after today’s development. Earlier on September 8, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had also supported the June 1997 Uphaar cinema fire victims’ plea before the Supreme Court to cancel the bail of the Ansal brothers.
A bench comprising Justices B. N. Aggarwal and G S Singhvi had earlier issued notices to Ansal brothers asking to justify their bail, and also directed them to be present during the next hearing in the
case.
