Sushil Ansal seeks to withdraw suit in Delhi HC against release of ‘Trial by Fire’

Justice Yashwant Varma in its January 12 order had called Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy’s book, Trial by Fire – The tragic tale of the Uphaar Tragedy on which the series is based, a “cry of anguish” against the manner in which the incident was prosecuted and tried. Justice Varma had said, “It essentially represents their perspective and opinion. A fictional rendition of their trials and tribulations cannot, prima facie, be presumed to be defamatory… In any case, and prima facie, the court finds itself unconvinced to record or arrive at the conclusion that the narrative penned by defendants Nos. 4 and 5 (Krishnamoorthys) could be said to be wholly fantastical or deprived of a semblance of the truth as conceived.”

The fire that engulfed Uphaar cinema hall in June 1997 killed 59 people, including the two Krishnamoorthy children, and injured around 100. The cinema hall was owned by real estate barons Sushil and Gopal Ansal.

The High Court had also said it would be “wholly inappropriate to grant injunctive reliefs” at the interim stage even before the show is viewed and properly examined in its entirety. Examining the disclaimer to the web series, the court said that it merely claims to be “inspired” by the book authored by the Krishnamoorthys.

In his lawsuit, Ansal had also sought a restrain on the further publication of the Krishnamoorthys book published by Penguin Random House India Private Ltd.