The Ansal brothers convicted in the Uphaar tragedy may end up in jail for two years if they fail to pay up to Rs60 crore to the Delhi Government within three months.
This condition became known after the Supreme Court on Tuesday made its order of August 19 public on the website giving reasons that the Ansal brothers — Sushil and Gopal — who will undergo two years of rigorous imprisonment can get their sentence curtailed to the period already undergone if they pay Rs30 crore each within three months. The Court agreed to make this concession considering the advanced age and ill health of the petitioners.
In the oral order issued last week, the Court had only stated that Sushil Ansal (76) and Gopal Ansal (67) could be let off on payment of fine of Rs60 crore. This raised a lot of hue and cry among the victims' families who alleged the fine to be "blood money" and even urged Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal not to accept the amount.
With the case dragging for 18 years, after a long wait, the victims felt cheated and awaited for the detailed order to file a review petition. In its written order, the bench of Justices Anil R Dave, Kurian Joseph and Adarsh Goel said, "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 Rs30 crores each, i.e. Rs60 crores, then the sentence will stand reduced to the period already undergone."
The bench added, "If they fail to pay the amount within a period of three months from today (August 19), they shall undergo the sentence of two years each, excluding the term which they have already undergone." The Ansals have undergone less than five months in prison. The Court even clarified that the Rs60 crore has to be paid by way of demand draft to Delhi Chief Secretary for setting up a new trauma centre or upgrading existing trauma centres in the Capital.