‘Requires Prioritization’: Delhi High Court To Hear On July 18 Plea Against Early Release Of Ansal Brothers In Uphaar Fire Evidence Tampering Case

The Delhi High Court will hear on July 18 the petition moved by Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy challenging a Trial Court order releasing real estate barons Sushil Ansal and Gopal Ansal as against the jail term already undergone by them, in the evidence tampering case connected to the Uphaar fire tragedy that happened in the year 1997.Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani allowed the application moved by AVUT seeking early hearing on the revision petition which was placed in the regular board after having been admitted. The court asked the Registry to list the criminal revision petitions of Ansal brothers against their conviction and sentencing, which were also listed in the regular board, along with AUVT’s plea on July 18. “It is clarified that the next date of hearing is not for final hearing. Such a date will be decided subsequently to ensure that all the matters are taken up and heard together,” the court clarified. Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan appearing for Delhi Police supported the early hearing application and submitted that “something has to be said” about the impugned order passed by the trial court. The police has also moved a plea seeking enhancement of the sentence of both Sushil Ansal and Gopal Ansal and others in the matter. The court agreed with the observations of a coordinate bench which observed that the case be decided at the earliest. “The court would like to add to those observations to say that the matter involves wider public law ramifications including those affecting the judicial system itself which requires prioritizartion,” the court said. Ansals and former court staff Dinesh Chand Sharma and two others - PP Batra and Anoop Singh were awarded 7-year-jail term each in November 2021, by the trial court. However, in July last year, after upholding the conviction, Principal District & Sessions Court released Ansals against the period already undergone by them in jail.CMM Pankaj Sharma had convicted Ansals and others under Sections 201 (tampering of evidence), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code.

‘Requires Prioritization’: Delhi High Court To Hear On July 18 Plea Against Early Release Of Ansal Brothers In Uphaar Fire Evidence Tampering Case

Nupur Thapliyal

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