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While modifying the sentence, the trial court had observed that the family members of the fire victims may not want the culprits to go “scot-free and enjoy any rights and liberties in the

remainder of their lives but this whole criminal litigation cannot be converted by the prosecution into an inhuman and vindictive approach to the present appellants”. Regarding this

observation, the victims said in the plea that “it is highly disrespectful and insulting to record an observation against the victims suggesting that by initiating criminal process against

the offenders, victims have taken an inhuman and vindictive approach. In fact, the judicial system should be thankful to such responsible members of the society”. While upholding the

conviction of the Ansal brothers, the trial court acquitted one co-accused, Anup Singh, in the case. The case is related to tampering with the evidence in the main fire tragedy case in which

the Ansals were convicted and sentenced to a 2-year jail term by the Supreme Court. As per the charge sheet, the documents tampered with included a police memo giving details of recoveries

immediately after the incident, Delhi Fire Service records about repair of transformer installed inside Uphaar, minutes of Managing Director's meetings, and four cheques. Out of the six

sets of documents, a cheque of Rs 50 lakh, issued by Sushil Ansal to himself, and minutes of the MD's meetings, proved beyond doubt that the two brothers were handling the day-to-day

affairs of the theatre at the relevant time, the charge sheet had said. The tampering was detected for the first time on 20 July 2002, and a departmental enquiry was initiated against Dinesh

Chand Sharma. He was suspended and terminated from services on 25 June 2004. The fire had broken out at the Uphaar cinema during the screening of the Hindi film 'Border' on 13

June 1997, claiming 59 lives. _(Published in an arrangement with PTI)_