In 1997 on a Friday evening, the Uphaar cinema during a packed show of hit film "Border" turned into a death trap when it went up in flames.
The Supreme Court has confirmed the conviction and the two-years sentence for real estate barons Sushil Ansal and Gopal Ansal, who were convicted in the Uphaar tragedy of 1997, which claimed 59 lives.
Though the oral order was passed by a three judge bench on August 19, the written order, which was posted on the court's website today, however, said a detailed, reasoned judgment will be given later.
The order says the Ansal brothers stand convicted and sentenced to two years' jail term, but they would pay a fine of Rs 30 crore each and will not go to jail due to their advanced age and peculiar circumstances.
Sushil Ansal, 76, had served around 5 months in jail and Gopal Ansal, 67, around 4 months.
A court in Delhi had awarded two years' sentence - the maximum under Section 304A, which deals with criminal negligence. But in 2008, the Delhi High Court reduced the sentence to one year.
The Central Bureau of Investigation - which investigated the case -- and the victims had challenged it in the Supreme Court and in March 2014, two judges of the top court confirmed the conviction but differed in sentencing, sending the case to a three judge bench.
While the verdict came as a huge disappointment to the victims, the CBI is allowed to file an appeal in the case.
Fifty-nine people had died in the devastating fire at Uphaar, the cinema hall in South Delhi 18 years ago.
Virtually every safety rule had been broken at the hall -- routes to fire exits had been blocked to plant extra seats - so when the fire started, the hall turned a death trap. Most died of asphyxiation, around a 100 were injured in the stampede.