Swarna Shukla –
Published On: October 29, 2021 at 11:20 IST
The Delhi Police urged the Court to give life Imprisonment to real estate barons Sushil Ansal and others for Tampering the evidence in 1997 Uphaar cinema fire Case that took 59 lives.
The Court Convicted Ansal, former Court staff Dinesh Chand Sharma and individuals P Batra and Anoop Singh on 8 October. The other Accused, Har Swarrop Panwar and Dharamvir Malhotra Died during the Trial.
Delhi Police urged Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pankaj Sharma to sentence maximum punishment to the Convicts, stating that, “The offences proved against them are of gravest nature and ultimately shattered the faith of common man in the Justice delivery system.”
Police said, “By tampering with evidence forming part of judicial records, Convicts sought to hamper and scuttle the Legal process of Law. They have not only polluted the stream of justice but they have also potentially undermined the majesty of Rule of Law.
The Court accepted the arguments made by Senior Advocate Vikas Pahwa representing Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT), that H S Panwar and Ansal criminally conspired the destruction of the most vital piece of evidence collected by the Central Bureau of Investigation against them.
Later the Prosecution contended that Ansal was prosecuted in the main Case and the documents were mutilated, destroyed or were illegally removed, showed their involvement in the day-to-day functioning of the Uphaar Cinema.
The Tampering was detected first time on 20 July, 2002 against Dinesh Chand and got him suspended. When inquiry was made, he got terminated from services on 25 June, 2004.
The Case was lodged on the directions of the Delhi High Court and the Petition was filed by the AVUT Chairperson Neelam Krishnamoorthy. The fire broke out at the Uphaar Cinema during the screening of the ‘Border’ movie on 13 June, 1997.