New Delhi: CBI today vehemently opposed in court the plea for release of Uphaar cinema case convict and real estate baron Gopal Ansal on probation on the grounds of his "contribution to the national economy", saying none of the convicts deserved mercy.

Additional Session Judge Mamta Sehgal fixed for 3 pm tomorrow the delivery of her verdict on sentencing of the 12 convicts in the 1997 fire tragedy case as the court wrapped up hearing their arguments on point of punishment. Fifty nine people were killed in the Uphaar blaze.

Prem Kumar, arguing for Gopal Ansal, sought leniency saying his client's contribution to Indian economy was immense as he was heading several estate companies worth over Rs 3,000 crore and was a leader of real estate.

"One thousand people are directly employed by him while over 10,000 people are dependent on them," he said, claiming their lives may be affected if the convict is sentenced to a jail term.

Gopal, a civil engineer, should be extended the benefit of probation keeping in view his profile, background, his active involvement in various charitable activities, bad health and that he had no "direct role" to play when the incident occurred, the counsel said.

However, the CBI counsel Y K Saxena strongly opposed the convicts plea to be released on probation or by paying fine and said "They do not deserve any mercy or sympathy".

"They be awarded the maximum punishment prescribed under the penal provisions of IPC under which they have been found guilty by this court," Saxena said, adding they were guilty of the most callous kind of criminal negligence.

Seeking "deterrent" punishment for them, he said they must have anticipated that their acts of negligence could lead to such a disaster, which claimed 59 lives in the blaze that engulfed the theatre on June 13,1997.

Source : PTI