Uphaar fire tragedy: Here’s a timeline of what happened in nearly two-decade long case

Here is a timeline of the events:

June 13, 1997: 59 people die of asphyxia as a fire breaks out in south Delhi’s Uphaar cinema during the screening of the Hindi movie Border. More than 100 were injured in the subsequent stampede.

July 22, 1997: Theatre owner Sushil Ansal and his son Pranav were arrested in Mumbai by the crime branch of Delhi police.

July 24, 1997: The probe was transferred from Delhi police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

November 15, 1997: CBI files chargesheet against 16 accused including theatre owners Sushil and Gopal Ansal.

Trial begins

March 10, 1999: A sessions court presided by L D Malik initiates trial.

February 27, 2001: Court frames charges against accused under various sections, including sections 304 (culpable homicide), 304 A (causing death by negligent act) and 337 (hurt) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

May 23, 2001: Recording of prosecution witnesses’ testimony begins.

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April 4, 2002: Delhi High Court asks trial court to try to wrap up the case by December 15.

Jan 27, 2003: Ansals’ plea seeking re-possession of the theatre rejected on the ground that place of incident is to be preserved to appreciate evidence.

April 24, 2003: Delhi High Court awards Rs 180 million compensation to be paid to the relatives of victims.

Sep 4, 2004: Court starts recording statements of accused.

Nov 5, 2005: Recording of testimonies of defence witnesses begins.

Aug 2, 2006: Court concludes recording of testimony of defence witnesses.

Aug 9, 2006: Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Mamta Sehgal inspects the theatre.

Feb 14, 2007: Accused start advancing final arguments.

Aug 21, 2007: Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) approaches Delhi High Court seeking conclusion of trial within a fixed time frame.

Aug 20, 2007: Senior advocate Harish Salve appears for CBI and advances final arguments.

Aug 21, 2007: Judgement reserved. Court fixes September 5 for pronouncement of verdict.

Sep 5, 2007: Court defers pronouncement of verdict and says it would fix the date of judgement on October 22.

Oct 22, 2007: Court fixes November 20 as date of verdict.

Conviction and after 

Nov 20, 2007: Court convicts all 12 accused, including Sushil and Gopal Ansal, in the case and sentences them to two years imprisonment.

Jan 4, 2008: Delhi High Court grants bail to Ansal brothers and two other accused.

Sep 11, 2008: Ansals sent to Tihar Jail after Supreme Court cancels their bail.

Quantum of sentence

Nov 17, 2008: Delhi High Court reserves trial court order.

Dec 19, 2008: Delhi High Court upholds trial court order convicting Ansal brothers but reduces their sentence from two years to one year.

2009: Supreme Court issues notice on petition filed by AVUT, a platform of victims’ families, for enhancement of sentence and alteration of charges. CBI too files appeal seeking enhancement

April 17, 2013: Supreme Court reserves order on appeals of Ansals, CBI and AVUT

March 5, 2014: Judges differ on sentence. One judge awards one year, another sentences Ansals to term already undergone. Matter referred to three-judge bench

August 11, 2015: Hearing begins on quantum of sentence

August 19, 2015 : Supreme Court allows Ansals to walk free after paying a fine of Rs 30 crore each

2017: Supreme Court asks Gopal to undergo the remaining one-year jail term while his elder brother Sushil was given relief from incarceration, in view of age-related complications keeping in mind the prison term already served by him.

February 20, 2020 : Supreme Court dismisses a curative petition filed by an association of the victims

November 8, 2021 : A Delhi court sentences real estate barons Sushil and Gopal Ansal to seven years simple imprisonment for tampering with evidence. Court also imposes a fine of Rs 2.5 crore on each of the Ansals.