Relief to Ansal brothers in Uphaar related matter

In a relief to real estate giants Ansal brothers -- Sushil and Gopal, the Supreme Court on Friday declined a plea challenging the Delhi High Court order quashing the criminal proceedings against them for allegedly threatening the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy chairperson Neelam Krishnamoorthy and her husband.

Declining to entertain the plea by Neelam Krishnamoorthy and upholding the Delhi High Court order quashing the summons against Ansals, the apex court bench comprising Justice Anil R. Dave and Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said: "We don't find substance in the case."

The high court while quashing the summons against Ansals had allowed proceedings against their two employees Deepak Kathpalia and Praveen Sharma.

Neelam Krishnamoorthy had contended that she and her husband were allegedly threatened by Kathpalia and Sharma while they were inside Patiala House court premises on May 10, 2007.

The trial court on June 19, 2007, took cognizance against Ansal brothers and their employees Kathpalia and Sharma and issued summons against the four.

The trial court proceedings were stayed by the high court on July 30, 2007 and the high court on July 14, 2015, while allowing the prosecution of Kathpalia and Sharma, had quashed the summons against Ansal brothers.

The high court had held that Kathpalia and Sharma would be put on trial under section 509 (insulting the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code.