Supreme Court directs Ansal brothers not to leave country without its nod

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court directed real estate barons Sushil and Gopal Ansal, who were convicted in Uphaar fire tragedy case, not to leave the country without its permission.

"None of the appellants (Sushil and Gopal Ansal) shall leave this country without the leave of the court," a bench comprising justices B S Chauhan, J Chelameswar and Kurian Joseph said.

Earlier, on March 26, the apex court had expressed displeasure over Sushil Ansal leaving the country without its permission.

The bench, however, had allowed Ansal to stay in the US for medical treatment after senior advocate Ram Jethmalani, appearing for Ansal, gave an assurance that he will return on April 11.

Sushil Ansal's counsel had later informed the apex court about his return.

The bench was hearing an application filed by the Association of Victims of Uphaar Fire Tragedy (AVUT) against Ansals travelling abroad without the court's permission.

The Association contended that since Ansals have been convicted by the apex court, they cannot leave the country without the permission of the top court.

Further, it sought imposition of suitable conditions on the bail enjoyed by Ansals as no conditions were stipulated when they were granted bail on January 30, 2009.

The apex court on March 5, held Ansals guilty in the 1997 tragedy, saying they were more interested about making money than ensuring safety of the cinegoers.

The court had upheld the conviction of Sushil and Gopal Ansal for the tragedy that claimed the lives of 59 people. Justices T S Thakur and Gyan Sudha Misra, however, had disagreed over the quantum of punishment to be given to them and the issue has been referred to a three-judge bench to pronounce a final verdict on it.

While Justice Thakur had retained one-year jail term of Sushil and Gopal Ansal as imposed by the Delhi High Court, Justice Misra reduced the jail term to already undergone by Sushil considering his age but enhanced the sentence of Gopal to two years.

Justice Misra had also imposed a fine of Rs 100 crore on the Ansal brothers to be used for construction of a trauma centre and super-speciality hospital.

The bench, however, was concurrent in its finding that there was contemptuous disregard of civic laws on the part of Ansals that led to the tragedy as they were more interested in making money than ensuring safety of people.

The bench had passed the order on cross appeals filed by CBI, AVUT and Ansals challenging the Delhi High Court order.