The Delhi-based Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) has raised serious allegations that Sushil Ansal—convicted for his role in the 1997 Uphaar Cinema fire—deliberately misled the court by supplying inconsistent passport details during a plea for a No Objection Certificate (NOC). The petition, presented in 2018, points to stark discrepancies between the passport number Ansal submitted in his court plea and earlier records, prompting suspicion that he may never have validly renewed his passport during the period in question.
AVUT chairperson Neelam Krishnamoorthy, who spearheads the legal campaign on behalf of the victims’ families, argued that Ansal was “playing fraud” by seeking to obscure his true passport status. The court was told that establishing the correct passport number is essential before granting an NOC, as Ansal’s plea appeared to mislead the judiciary regarding his travel documentation.
Further developments emerged in a 2021 follow-up charge sheet, where Delhi Police revealed that Ansal filed a false affidavit in 2013 under the Tatkaal passport scheme, claiming under oath that no criminal proceedings or convictions were pending against him. In reality, however, he stood convicted. Authorities allege that he knowingly concealed this information, violating critical provisions of the Passport Act.
These revelations have reignited public outrage over the Uphaar tragedy, in which 59 lives were lost during a screening of ”Border” at Delhi’s Uphaar Cinema due to gross safety violations. AVUT’s ongoing legal efforts underscore the persistence of victims’ families in seeking accountability—not only for the original negligence, but for subsequent attempts to evade legal consequences.
The case continues to spotlight troubling questions about fairness in the justice system—especially regarding how powerful individuals navigate legal hurdles long after the tragedy. AVUT insists its vigilance remains relentless.
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