Uphaar fire case: SC judge recuses self from hearing Gopal Ansal’s plea

Ansal has petitioned the court seeking its permission to travel to London from June 16-20 and to New York on June 20-27 and return to India on June 28-29.

Ansal brothers — Sushil and Gopal — had been convicted in the June 13, 1997 Uphaar fire tragedy, which claimed 59 lives during the screening of the Hindi blockbuster ‘Border’. The brothers were restrained by the apex court on April 22 from leaving the country without its permission.

Gopal Ansal said he needed to travel to London to meet financiers, investors and architects to discuss investment proposals for a 45-acre plot belonging to M/s Ansal Buildwell Ltd and associate companies in Kumrakom, Kerala.

In March, the apex court had expressed serious displeasure over Sushil Ansal leaving the country without its prior nod.

The Association of Victims of Uphaar Fire Tragedy had approached the Supreme Court against the Ansals’ travelling abroad without the court’s permission.

The Supreme Court had on March 5 upheld the conviction of the Ansals in the case, saying they were more interested in making money than ensuring safety of the cine-goers.

The two-judge bench, however, differed on the quantum of punishment and referred the matter to a larger bench.