The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Ansal brothers not to leave the country till next Wednesday when it will take up the review petitions filed by CBI and Uphaar Tragedy Victims Association for deciding the quantum of sentence to be awarded to the two brothers.
Both Gopal Ansal and Sushil Ansal were convicted for causing rash and negligent death of 59 persons in the Uphaar fire tragedy but there was confusion on whether they would undergo two years sentence or get benefit of an early release from jail on payment of `30 crore each.
A three-judge Bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Kurian Joseph and Adarsh K Goel issued notice on the two review petitions challenging the September 22, 2015 order of the SC. The Bench fixed the case for hearing on December 14 indicating that a decision could be pronounced the same day.
This is the third round of litigation in the case before the apex court. In the first round, a two judge Bench had convicted the Ansal brothers but differed on the quantum of punishment. While one judge was of the view that the brothers must suffer one year rigorous imprisonment, another judge was of the view that they must suffer two years imprisonment. However, the judge added that the accused can obtain release on payment of a sum of `50 crore each.
The difference of opinion on punishment led the case to be referred to a three judge bench which pronounced its order on September 22 last year subscribing to the latter view. But the three-judge bench reduced the quantum of fine to `30 crore each. Aggrieved by this order, both CBI and Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) filed review petitions that was heard in open court by a Bench headed by Justice Gogoi.
On Tuesday, as the victims’ kin had apprehended based on a news report that the accused plans to leave the country, the Bench asked the counsel for the accused if their clients are ready to undertake not to leave the country. Senior advocate Salman Khurshid volunteered that his clients will remain in India till disposal of the review petitions.