Nishka Srinivas Veluvali –
Published on: November 27, 2021 at 22:55 IST
On 27 November 2021, Delhi Court reserved its Plea of suspending the 7 years jail sentence awarded to Real Estate Barons Sushil and Gopal Ansal for meddling with evidence in the 1997 Case.
The Ansals filed appeals opposing the judgment and jail period passed by the Magisterial Court, for which Additional Sessions Judge Anil Antil reserved the Plea for 3 December.
The appeals questioned their conviction and urged that the Sessions Court withholds the punishment awarded to them, till their appeal filed is decided by Court.
Senior Advocate Vikas Pahwa, representing the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT), while opposing the appeals stated that “The offense of tampering the Evidence is extremely serious in nature as it affects the entire criminal justice system.”
The Delhi Police agreed with Senior Advocate and opposed the Appeals contending that, “Suspending the Jail terms of the convicts would trigger the mental trauma and agony of the victims.”
The Police informed the Delhi Court that the sentence awarded to the Accused gave consolation to the victims of the tragedy and strengthened their belief in the Judicial System.
Public Prosecutor told the Court, “Suspension of this order would erode the faith of the common citizens from the Judicial Delivery System.”
The Case is concerned with tampering of evidence in the fire Tragedy Case in Uphaar Cinema hall that lead to death of 59 people. Subsequently Sushil and Gopal Ansal were found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment for 7 years along with the fine of Rs. 3 lakhs each.