The other three convicts -- S S Sharma and N D Tiwari of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and H S Panwar of Delhi Fire Service -- were also granted two years term as the offences were similar to that of the Ansal brothers.

Fiftynine cinegoers were killed in the blaze in the theatre on June 13, 1997 during the screening of Hindi blockbuster Border. The High Court had granted bail to the Ansal brothers and two other accused on January 4.

Uphaar case chronology

Following is the chronology of events in the 1997 Uphaar fire tragedy case:-

* June 13, 1997: 59 people die of asphyxia in Uphaar cinema hall fire which broke out during the screening of Hindi movie Border. Over 100 others injured in stampede.

* July 22, 1997: Theatre owner Sushil Ansal and his son Pranav arrested in Mumbai by the crime branch of Delhi Police.

* July 24, 1997: Probe transferred from police to CBI.

* Nov 15, 1997: CBI files chargesheet against 16 accused including cinema owners Sushil and Gopal Ansal.

* Feb 27, 2001: Court frames charges against accused under various sections including 304 (culpable homicide), 304 A (causing death by negligent act) and 337 (hurt) of the IPC.

* April 24, 2003: The Delhi High Court awards Rs 18 crore compensation, to be paid by cinema hall owners, to relatives of victims.

* May 23, 2001: Recording of prosecution witnesses' testimony begins.

* Sep 4, 2004: Court starts recording statements of accused.

... contd.