Uphaar fire tragedy: Chronology of events

NEW DELHI: Following is the chronology of events in the 1997 Uphaar fire tragedy case in which the Supreme Court today allowed industrialists Sushil and Gopal Ansal to walk free and asked them to deposit a fine of Rs 30 crore each in three months:

June 13, 1997: 59 people die of asphyxia in a fire in south Delhi's Uphaar cinema during the screening of Hindi movie "Border". Over 100 were injured in subsequent stampede.

July 22: Uphaar theatre owner Sushil Ansal and his son Pranav arrested in Mumbai.

July 24: Probe transferred from Delhi Police to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Nov 15: CBI files charge sheet against 16 accused including theatre owners Sushil and Gopal Ansal.

March 10, 1999: A sessions court presided by L D Malik initiates trial.

Feb 27, 2001: Court frames charges against accused under various sections, including sections 304 (culpable homicide), 304 A (causing death by negligent act) and 337 (hurt) of the IPC.

May 23: Recording of prosecution witnesses' testimony begins.

April 4, 2002: Delhi High Court asks trial court to try to wrap up the case by December 15.

Jan 27, 2003: Ansals' plea seeking re-possession of the theatre rejected on the ground that place of incident is to be preserved to appreciate evidence.

April 24: Delhi High Court awards Rs 180 million compensation to be paid to relatives of victims.

Sept 4, 2004: Court starts recording statements of accused.

Nov 5, 2005: Recording of testimonies of defence witnesses begins.

Aug 2, 2006: Court concludes recording of testimony of defence witnesses.

Aug 9: Additional Sessions Judge Mamta Sehgal inspects the theatre.

Feb 14, 2007: Accused start advancing final arguments.

Aug 21: Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) approaches Delhi High Court seeking conclusion of trial within a time frame.