Explosive interview: Uphaar victims mother Neelam Krishnamurthy - Indian courts only for rich and powerful (Watch video)

Staff correspondent, August 20, 2015, NewsCrunch

Neelam Krishnamurthy, who lost her children at Uphaar fire tragedy, disagreed with the Supreme Court judgement on live TV.

The Supreme Court had on Wednesday fined Ansal brothers Rs 60 crore and let them off without any additional jail time.

The Ansal brothers owned the Uphaar cinema in South Delhi, which caught fire and killed 59 people. The probe established that the cinema had ignored all safety measures and even blocked emergency exit routes to put extra chairs.

In its judgement, the Apex Courtsaid the long delay in the trial, which ran nearly for two decades was a mitigating factor.

Speaking to India Today TV, on behalf of the Uphaar Victims Association, Neelam Krishnamurthy blamed the defence counsel Ram Jethmalani and the judges for the delay.

In contrast, prosecution lawyers Tulsi and Salve were given just two days each, she alleged.

The Association’s attempt to expedite the case was blocked at every step, she said.

Saying Indian courts were only for the rich and powerful, Neelam Krishnamurthy said she regretted her decision of going to the court for seeking justice.

“I wish I had picked up a gun 18 years back and faced a trial. I would have come out by now and would have had some peace of mind," she said.