A Delhi court has taken a significant step in a fresh legal battle against Sushil Ansal, the real estate baron convicted in the horrific 1997 Uphaar cinema fire. The court has ordered the framing of charges against Ansal for allegedly obtaining passports by submitting "false information" and concealing his criminal cases.
The Core of the Allegations
Chief Judicial Magistrate Shriya Agrawal, in her order dated November 28, 2025, stated that Ansal induced the passport authority to act by providing false or deficient details. The court found prima facie evidence that he committed offences punishable under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code (cheating) and Section 12 of the Passports Act, 1967.
The prosecution argued that Ansal applied for passports on multiple occasions—in 2000, 2004, and 2013—while suppressing material facts. Specifically, in his 2013 application, he allegedly filed a sworn affidavit falsely affirming that no criminal proceedings were pending against him and that there was no order of conviction. The court noted he concealed the details of cases pending against him in both his 2013 affidavit and an undertaking given in 2018.
Legal Proceedings and Victim's Pursuit
This case originates from a December 2018 order of the Delhi High Court. The order came on a petition filed by the Association of the Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT), who have persistently sought accountability beyond the main tragedy case. The current proceedings are a direct result of their legal pursuit.
The Uphaar fire, which occurred on June 13, 1997, during the screening of the film 'Border', claimed 59 lives and injured over 100. It remains one of India's most devastating man-made disasters, leading to a protracted legal fight spanning decades.
Background: Sentences, Fines, and Ongoing Battles
The legal journey for Sushil Ansal and his brother Gopal Ansal has seen multiple twists. In 2015, the Supreme Court imposed a hefty fine of Rs 60 crore on the Ansals in lieu of a custodial sentence. This amount was deposited with the Delhi government.
In a separate case related to evidence tampering in the Uphaar tragedy, a Delhi court in July 2022 granted relief to Sushil Ansal, ordering his release from jail. The court observed that a trial court's earlier seven-year sentence and a fine of Rs 2.25 crore were "punitive and retributive."
The latest development concerning the passport allegations underscores the continuing legal scrutiny faced by Ansal. It represents the victims' families' unwavering efforts to ensure comprehensive justice is served for all aspects of the case, extending beyond the initial tragedy to subsequent actions of the convicted.
