Uphaar tragedy: Supreme Court rejects Gopal Ansal’s plea

The Supreme Court has refused to show any mercy on the real estate tycoon Gopal Ansal, alleged guilty in Uphaar fire tragedy. Ansal had approached the court earlier this month, to let him off on the basis of his ill health and sentence already undergone by him. Although the apex court has dismissed his plea but it has extended the deadline for him to surrender and complete his one year jail term till March 20. Gopal Ansal had earlier served four months of his one-year sentence. Ansal is co-accused with brother Sushil Ansal in the 1997 Uphaar cinema fire tragedy case in which 59 persons lost their lives. The court stated that since Gopal Ansal, 69, did not suffer any age-related complications, as was the case with Sushil Ansal, 77, the principle of parity shall not be applicable and hence he must spend a year in prison. The court also dismissed the plea of Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy seeking modification of its order by which Sushil Ansal was let off with the sentence already undergone in view of his old age. The association had contended that Sushil Ansal was hale and hearty and there was no evidence that he was suffering from age related problems and urged the court to direct him to surrender to finish the remainder of his one-year sentence. Gopal and Sushil Ansal were let off last year by the SC with the sentence already undergone by them as adequate punishment and directed each to pay Rs 30 crore as fine. However, on review petitions filed by the association and the CBI, the SC on February 9 upheld Sushil's sentence but asked Gopal to undergo his full one-year prison term.

The decision of the SC is justified based on the gravity and severity of the Uphaar case. Mercy has no place in cases of gross negligence where many have lost their lives. As it is justice had been delayed for a long time and the only ray of relief for the victims and their families is seeing the culprits behind the bars being punished for their ill-deeds.