All You Need To Know About Uphaar Cinema Fire Tragedy Which Inspired Web Series ‘Trial By Fire’

The capital of India witnessed one of the biggest catastrophes in the year 1997, when a fire broke inside Uphaar Cinema. On the fateful day of June 13, a screening of Border was taking place with many people enjoying the 3 PM show. 

A fire broke inside the cinema hall because of which 59 people died of asphyxiation and 103 were critically injured due to the stampede that followed.

Netflix

Now, a web series called Trial By Fire will revolve around the same story. The trailer of the same was launched today and it narrates the gruesome tale. It stars Abhay Deol and Rajshri Desphande as a couple who lost both their kids to the tragedy and it’s based on Shekhar Krishnamoorthy and his wife Neelam’s real life story.

Sharing the trailer, Abhay wrote, “The trailer is here! 13 June, 1997 altered the lives of hundreds of families. #TrialByFire traces the story of parents, Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy, who alongside other families have fought for justice. Catch their story in #TrialByFire, releasing January 13 only on @netflix_in”.

Everything You Need To Know About The Uphaar Cinema Fire Tragedy

Both Neelam and Shekhar not only lost their kids to the fire but they also had to fight a long battle to get justice.

For the unversed, it took 24 years of trials and tribulations for them to finally get closure for their children’s deaths. Uphaar cinema was owned by real estate agents Sushi and Gopal Ansal. After a long legal battle, the Ansals were finally convicted to seven years in prison on 8 November 2021.

Times Now

 Here’s a timeline of all events that took place in this case:

1997 

59 people die of asphyxia in a fire in South Delhi’s Uphaar cinema during the screening of Hindi movie “Border”. Over 100 people were injured in subsequent stampede.

Uphaar theatre owner Sushil Ansal and his son Pranav were arrested in Mumbai.

Probe transferred from Delhi Police to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

CBI files charge sheet against 16 accused including theatre owners Sushil and Gopal Ansal.

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 IPC.

2003

The Ansals plea seeking re-possession of the theatre rejected on the ground that place of incident is to be preserved to appreciate evidence.

The Delhi High Court awards Rs 180 million compensation to be paid to relatives of victims.

2004

Court starts recording statements of accused.

2005

Recording of testimonies of defence witnesses begins.

Additional Sessions Judge Mamta Sehgal inspects the theatre.

2007 

Accused start advancing final arguments.

Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) approaches the Delhi High Court seeking conclusion of trial within a time frame.

Senior advocate Harish Salve appears for CBI and advances final arguments. Judgement reserved. Court fixes 5 September for pronouncement of verdict.

Court fixes Nov 20 as date of verdict.

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

2008

Delhi High Court grants bail to Ansal brothers and two other accused.

Ansals sent to Tihar Jail after Supreme Court cancels their bail.

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

2014 

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

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.

2021

A Delhi court awarded seven-year jail terms to real estate barons Sushil and Gopal Ansal for tampering with evidence. Court also imposes a fine of Rs 2.5 crore on each of the Ansals.

The trailer has evoked many reactions from the internet. Check it out:

Saw the trailer of @netflix‘s new series #Trialbyfire. I’m glad someone is now talking about the fire tragedy in one of the cinema halls in Delhi. The story from the tragedy to the justice delivered seems interesting with @AbhayDeol playing the lead with @AnupamPKher and others.

— Mathieu LeBeau (@mathieu_le_beau) January 4, 2023

Chilling trailer of #TrialByFire. @Neelamshekhar & Shekhar sir, ML Sehgal, Naveen Sawhney, Shyam Jagpal — thinking of all these wonderful people who lost their loved ones in this horrific #Uphaar tragedy.

A tragedy we seem to have forgotten all about. https://t.co/QibxQV0bct

— Somya Lakhani (@somyalakhani) January 4, 2023

#Trialbyfire,#series that narrates resilient #story f parents Neelam & Shekhar Krishnamoorthy,who lost their 2 kids in fire tragedy,premieres @NetflixIndia Jan 13. #EntertainmentNews #Delhi #TrueStory #streaming #ottnews #Digital #release https://t.co/rVAixnqKEv pic.twitter.com/ldFqILlDng

— Rajesh Ahuja (@raju0524) January 4, 2023

#Trialbyfire, a movie based on Uphar Cinema Tragedy coming up in @NetflixIndia on 13th January, Trailer is Out Now! Looks interesting, good to see @AbhayDeol back. https://t.co/hcpvcC9EzJ

— anksreview (@AnksReview) January 4, 2023

(With PTI inputs)

Trial By Fire will start streaming on Netflix from January 13.  

(To read more such stories related to movies and shows released on OTTs, keep reading Indiatimes BINGE)