Here in India, 59 people died, and if we calculate, it comes to nine days imprisonment for each accused for every one person who died in the tragedy. Is it worth it?' Krishnamurthy asked.

The five other accused - the cinema's managers Radhakrishan Sharma and N.S. Chopra, DVB official A.K. Ghera, and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials S.S. Sharma and N.D. Tiwari - were acquitted by the Delhi High Court.

The high court had earlier this year reduced the jail terms of Brij Mohan, Bir Singh and Uniyal from seven years to two years.

On June 13, 1997, a fire broke out during screening of a Hindi film in Uphaar cinema hall, killing 59 people, including women and children. Besides Bir Singh, Brij Mohan and Uniyal, the two Ansal brothers, who owned the cinema theatre, were convicted in the case.