Earlier in its verbal order, the court had on August 19 said Sushil (76) and Gopal Ansal (67) should pay a fine of Rs 30 crore each within three months and restricted their jail term to the period already undergone by them in view of their advanced age.
The judgement had received a lot of flak, especially from the association of victims of <g data-gr-id="24">Uphhar</g> cinema fire tragedy, in which 59 people had died 18 years ago. However, the written order has restored the two-year rigorous jail term awarded by the trial court to the brothers with a condition that the punishment can be reduced to the period already undergone if they would pay Rs 30 crore each within three months.
“For the reasons to be recorded hereafter, we direct that Sushil Ansal and Gopal Ansal shall stand sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for two years. “However, having regard to advanced age of the accused and other peculiar facts and circumstances, if they pay Rs 30 crores each, i.e. Rs 60 crores, then the sentence will stand reduced to the period already undergone,” a bench comprising justices A R <g data-gr-id="18">Dave,Kurian</g> Joseph and Adarsh Kumar Goel said.
“If they fail to pay the afore-stated amount within a period of three months from today (Tuesday), they shall undergo the sentence of two years each, excluding the term which they have already undergone,” it said. “The afore-stated amount shall be given by way of a demand draft to the Chief Secretary of Delhi Government for setting up a new trauma centre or for upgrading the existing trauma centres of hospitals managed by the Government of NCT of Delhi,” the order said.
Our stand vindicated by SC judgement: Uphaar victims’ body
The Uphaar victims association on Tuesday said their stand has been vindicated by the Supreme Court judgement upholding the two-year jail term for the Ansal brothers but felt if they are not made to serve the sentence then the fine of Rs 60 crores amounts to “blood money”. “We have been saying right from the beginning that this is a case where <g data-gr-id="50">maximum</g> sentence should be awarded and our stand has been vindicated as the Supreme Court has awarded them the maximum sentence.