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01x04 - Uphaar

Episode transcripts for the TV show, "Trial by Fire". Aired: 13 January 2023.*
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Series is based on the book Trial by Fire: The Tragic Tale of the Uphaar Fire Tragedy authored by Neelam Krishnamoorthy and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy about the Uphaar Cinema fire.

01x04 - Uphaar

Post by bunniefuu »

My clients are deeply hurt.

They are devastated. Heartbroken.

Of course, you have no way of knowing that

by the way they have been portrayed.

The press, the police,
the victims' families,

they all seem bent on making
my clients the villains in this accident.

Sir, everyone knows what Gopal
and Sushil Ansal have done for Delhi.

They run a charitable institute where
thousands of children are educated.

They gave us one of our oldest buildings,
our first high-rise.

Our first shopping mall.

Even today, they are not here in court

because like always

they are busy working for Delhi,
for the people of Delhi.

These two men who've spent
their whole lives building up Delhi

are now seeing
their reputations torn down,

when they too are
the victims of this tragedy!

There is no shortage of culprits
in the Uphaar Cinema fire,

but my clients are not among them.

It's time for us
to focus on facts instead of emotions.

Do you have anything
to say to that, Mr. Gaur?

Yes, Your Honor.

I have here an advertisement
with the headline,

"Uphaar Cinema Certain Facts."

In it, the Ansals clearly state that

they bear no responsibility
for this accident.

But if that were true,

- why did they need an ad?
- Your Honor,

I mean, I can't even read it...

This photocopy.

- Your Honor, I'd like to add...
- The prosecution is hereby requested

to only submit documents to the court
that we can actually read.

Next hearing, 15th June.

Hey, where did you say
your husband was? Huh?

He's in Gujarat.
He won't be back for three days.

Who's there?

He's upstairs.

Get down here.

m*therf*cker!

Go! He's getting away!

- Come and get me!
- He went downstairs. Get him!

He's getting away!

Give my love to your mom!

Yes, it'll be there in half an hour, sir.

Give me that.

- Give it back!
- In a minute!

What did you do this time?

One day you'll get it nicely...

Yeah, hello, Vinod.
You're sending g*ons to my place now?

Yes, so?
You're out of time, you understand?

What should I do? Sell my kidneys?

I only waited this long for your sister.
Otherwise, you'd have broken legs.

Now you're threatening me?

- I'll get you your money.
- Yeah, I've heard that before.

You think I'm playing games?
I'll have it in a few days.

- Didn't I already give you half?
- Listen, as*h*le!

Don't f*cking swear at me!
You think I'm afraid of you? as*h*le!

- Don't push me!
- Hey! You f*ck! Hey! Hey!

Hello? Yeah, Vino... Hello...

- as*h*le thinks he's a hero...
- In trouble again?

Don't try to be my father.

I'll chop you into pieces
and dump you in the forest.

Now get me a chow mein.

On the morning of 13th June,
a Delhi Electricity Board engineer

repaired the transformer
at Uphaar Cinema following a small fire.

- You were the supervisor?
- Yes.

You must have checked the log book, right?

Yes, I checked it.

And you concluded that
the repair was completed successfully?

In other words, the transformer was fixed.

Yes, sir. It was fixed.

The fire that morning,
why was it so much smaller?

Your Honor,
the witness isn't an expert in fires.

Hey, get out of here!

Mr. Gaur, please continue.

Your witness.

- I was thinking the same thing.
- We've given them plenty of chances.

Do whatever you have to, but do it fast.

I'll handle it, sir.

So Uphaar Cinema really just leases
the space to the electricity board, right?

Yes, that's correct.

In fact, Uphaar has its own transformer.

And it didn't malfunction
on the day of the accident, did it?

During the repair work,

your engineer bypassed two fuses
that regulate the power supply.

Is that normal practice?

Yes, sir, very normal.

Mrs. Verma didn't come?

I called her, but she didn't answer.

She lives alone. She's scared. We all are.

Their g*ons are threatening everyone.

Well let's clear this up, shall we?

Those fuses are there
to prevent a fire from starting.

So why would your engineer bypass them?

If the engineer doesn't have
the necessary parts, they often do this.

Sir...

So you're saying that
the Delhi Electricity Board

knowingly lets their engineers

- bypass these fuses?
- No, sir, it's not like that...

These fuses which are essential
for safety reasons.

Mr. Singh, is this true?

The accused are roaming free.

They didn't even spend two days in jail.
But there's one thing keeping us going.

We believe that we'll get justice.

We would do anything
for our children when they were alive.

Now they're gone.

But we will keep fighting for them.

That was Neelam Krishnamoorthy. CBI...

Should I ask Tulsi
if the CBI can appoint another prosecutor?

If they had someone better...

why would they choose Gaur?

Though you'd think they have someone
who can at least photocopy a document.

Excuse me. Excuse me, ma'am.
Can I help you?

Tiwari, give me that file.

Bring me the ones for case number 40, too.
We should organize them.

Mr. Gaur sent you?

Yes.

I'm afraid since the case
has been transferred, madam,

we haven't had the time
to properly sort the files.

The case was transferred
more than a year ago, wasn't it?

Here.

That many?

This way, madam...

Next time, bring your pass.

Neelu?

Why weren't you at the court today? Neelu?

Is everything okay?

I was busy.

What's all this?

Did you steal the evidence?

Are you crazy? I made copies.

There's more in the car.
Come help me.

How much did all this cost?

Hi, need some help?

No. Thank you.

Shall I close this?

Yes, please.

Exactly, how did you get these?

Don't worry about it.

Sir, how many do you need?

One each?

Rajan, make one copy of each page.

Come here.

How many copies do you want? Two each?

Here, make two copies of each.
Rajan, make sure you staple them.

Come outside. I need to talk to you.

- I don't have time.
- Well, I have all day.

- Can't you see I'm busy?
- Come out. This is important.

Some of us have work.

Fine, I'll just wait outside.
But I would hurry.

Hey! Get lost!

- Hey, what's wrong?
- Get lost!

- No, I think I'll get comfortable.
- Rajan, take over for a second.

- Don't make a scene!
- I'm the one making a scene?

Do you know what your husband did earlier?

We aren't talking much these days.

Hey, I said sorry, didn't I?

You've been saying this since childhood,
what's new?

Make him understand.

You said you'd pay it back
in three months.

So what happened?

- We need that money, do you understand?
- He has plenty of money.

He has plenty of debt! Get it?

Look, I've helped you as much as I can.
You're on your own now.

I'm done.

Okay, cool. I guess I'm alone now.

- I'll see you around.
- Don't come back here.

I'm tired of your lies.

Wonder what he'll do next.
Maybe he kills me, right?

- This one won't have the same problem?
- No.

- You're sure?
- Absolutely.

I'm coming back here if it does.

It'll work. No problems.

Hello, sir, how can I help you?

Yeah, I'm looking for a cable.

You need a cable? What kind?
Why don't you come out here?

I don't know the number.

Sir, just sit out here.
We'll figure it out. This way please.

- I'll help you. Come out here.
- Okay, I'm coming.

Tell me, what do you need?

- Sir?
- Yes?

- Yeah, tell me. Excuse me.
- Yeah?

- Okay, sir, what is it you want?
- I will tell you.

No, never mind. Thank you.

Watch this for a minute.
I need to use the restroom.

Sir, your box.

Hey! Stop!

Where are you going? He wants his money.

- f*ck!
- Hey, get back here!

- Catch him!
- You m*therf*cker!

f*ck! Where are you running to? Stop!

- Why are you running?
- f*ck, stop!

Give us the money.

Bloody coward! Hiding behind
your sister, m*therf*cker!

What's going on here?
Hey, stop, where are you going?

Stop!

Are you blind?

Mr. Gaur, we found something. Look.

It's a list of all the building code
violations in the cinema hall.

It's on my shoe as well.

And look here,
I added notes for you in every section.

Mr. Gaur.

Yes, Your Honor.

Mr. Kumar, in section 4B
of your report you list

the safety rules that were violated
in the Uphaar Cinema.

Yes.

There were no fire extinguishers,
and the exits were completely closed.

Your Honor, how many times
do we have to go over this?

Mr. Gaur, the court
has heard all this before.

Okay, okay. Let's move on.

I have just one more question
for the witness.

Mr. Gaur.

Sorry, sir.

- Mr. Kumar.
- Yes.

Mrs. Krishnamoorthy, the defense
is blaming the electricity board.

- What do you have to say about this?
- Please. No comments.

We need to do something about Gaur.

And AVUT...

I was all by myself in court today.

Mr. Pandey,
of the four fire brigade trucks

that were dispatched
to Uphaar Cinema to handle the fire,

your team was the first?

Do you recall what time you arrived?

17:21, sir.

And you called for backup
as soon as you arrived

because you recognized
the severity of the situation?

Yes, of course.

Is that the only reason
you called for backup?

Some of our equipment wasn't working,
especially the suction pumps.

How long did
the backup teams take to arrive?

Sir, I couldn't say exactly.
But it wasn't very long.

At what time were all 40 units
finally engaged at the scene?

I don't know that, sir.

Let me tell you, Mr. Pandey.

The fire wasn't brought
under control until 6:20 p.m.

Mr. Keswani is badgering the witness.

We have proven that

the Uphaar management was not
responsible for that transformer.

We have shown that the
electricity board engineers deliberately

ignored safety protocols
in repairing the transformer.

The same transformer
that caught fire that morning.

So how can any sensible person
blame my clients?

When they themselves,
were deeply disturbed by this accident.

They're disturbed? Then where are they?

- Why aren't they here?
- Your Honor.

Mrs. Krishnamoorthy!

They've turned this into a joke.

Mr. Gaur, please watch it.

Your outburst may have cost us this case.

We are not losing this case because of me.

So it's my fault then?

Sir, your roll.

There are 35 million cases
stuck in the courts.

We cannot win this.

- What do you want from me?
- I want you to care.

For the people who died in that fire.

This case is for them. Not for us.

Yes, brother, hello.

Send your guys at six o'clock
and you'll get your money, okay?

And stop blaming my sister.
It's not her fault. All right?

Add it to my tab.

Hello!

- Hey, excuse me!
- Get lost!

Go, clean yourself.

Come on, let's go, quickly.

Hey, brother, back up a little.

Help me out, brother.

There's no room. You need to back up.

You? I thought you were off today.

I was supposed to be. Arora called me.

Thinks the movie's going to be a superhit.

Bro, did you see the crowd?
The line is around the building.

Big bucks for you guys today.

Mr. Gaur...

Your Honor,
I want to talk about the cinema.

A place we go to escape our worries

and watch bad things
happen to other people.

We bring our kids there.

Our spouses.

And our elders and parents, too.

Because there is an unspoken agreement
that when the lights go down

and we settle into our seats,

for those two or three hours, we are safe.

There will be no danger.

We can forget our real troubles

and retreat into fantasy.

Our cinema halls are meant to be a refuge.

But those 200 people

who entered Uphaar Cinema
on 13th June, 1997,

had no idea that they were not safe.

Because the owners of Uphaar Cinema
didn't honor their end of the agreement.

- Hey, come here.
- Whatever the cause of that terrible fire,

if anyone is guilty, it is the Ansals.

Nothing, sir, I was just working.

- This is Mr. Ansal's special guest.
- Yes, sir.

Make sure he's comfortably seated
in the box.

At every turn, with every choice,
they thought only of their own benefit.

Box...

And in doing so,

they jeopardized the lives of people
who trusted them.

Bro, lock the door.
I'm going to watch the first half.

Trust is the very foundation
of public safety in our society.

A promise above all others

to be responsible
for the safety of those in your care.

If anyone gets in without ticket,
you're paying for them.

Understood? Hurry up.

As the manager of the fanciest
cinema hall in the country,

what were your responsibilities,
Mr. Arora?

As manager, my responsibility was
to make sure the cinema hall ran smoothly.

Okay.

Explain something to me.
The fire started around 4:50 p.m.

We've already heard that the first
fire brigade truck arrived at 5:21 p.m.

Yes, sir. About half an hour later.

When did you call the fire brigade?

Sir, I don't remember.
There was a lot of chaos.

According to the records,
the first call was made at 5:11 p.m.

Why did it take you 21 minutes
to make that call?

Your Honor. The learned counsel
is trying to lead the witness.

Let him finish.

- I must have panicked.
- But you knew enough to protect the money?

- Objection!
- Mr. Gaur?

Mr. Arora, we have a video in which,

you are seen carrying out a bag
before the arrival of the fire brigade.

- What was in that bag?
- Your Honor...

Answer the question, Mr. Arora.

It was the ticket receipts, sir.

As people were trapped inside that hall
with no fire extinguishers

no smoke alarms, no emergency lights

and exits locked from the outside,

you didn't even try to help.

Because you thought it was more important
to save the owner's money?

If people die, so be it?

Sir...

That's all, Your Honor.

Your Honor, the defense
would like to add a new witness.

Mrs. Neelam Krishnamoorthy.

If the judge won't listen to us,
then we'll appeal to the High Court.

I want to testify.

You're not a witness.

You have no information
that can add to the facts of this case.

So ask yourself, why would they call you?

I've spent a year waiting
for this opportunity

and finally I've got one.

This is my chance to be heard.

That's not what they're offering.

Make her see reason.

I won't be a part of this.

No, I mean, what if Mr. Gaur is right?

Shalini, don't you start too.

Trust me,
the chances of that are very, very low.

I am just saying...

What?

I don't understand
what people are afraid of?

That I'll lose my temper and smash
Raj's head in with the judge's gavel?

All I'm saying is, maybe it's best
to leave the law to the lawyers.

Found it.

- Hello, sir.
- Hello.

Is madam at home?

No. She's still out shopping.

But your friend stopped by.
He's in the other room.

Yes, yes!

Oh, no!

We are winning. Yes, yes, yes.

Go.

- Papa...
- Get out!

You shouldn't have come here.

You're not the only one
who can find people.

I know what you've done
to the others in our group.

How far will you take it?

Will you break our legs?

k*ll us?

You're blessed.

Hey! Stop, stop!

Stop!

Found you, wait! as*h*le! m*therf*cker.

Where's our money?

Leave that! No, no that!

Give it to me.

as*h*le, you can't be trusted.

She could never tie hers either.
You're going to be great tomorrow.

Thank you.

- Mrs. Krishnamoorthy?
- Yeah?

I wanted to wish you luck.

I work for Senior Counsel Mahesh Karve.

Whatever you have achieved with such
limited resources, it's quite inspiring.

Especially for me,
who also lost someone close in that fire.

I thought only the CBI
can choose prosecutors.

You should call Mr. Karve.

My name is Amrita Singh.
I've been following the case too.

Good luck for today.

Sir, I don't think this is appropriate.
This is not going to work.

I'll allow it this once.

You may proceed, Counsel.

Thank you.

Hello, Mrs. Krishnamoorthy,
I'm Mr. Keswani's colleague.

Mrs. Krishnamoorthy, who do you hold
responsible for your children's deaths?

Sushil and Gopal Ansal.

But it has been proved in the court that

there was negligence on the part
of electricity board and fire services.

You still blame them, why?

They own the property.

They own half of the city of Delhi.

I mean, everyone knows they
they have millions in assets.

You wouldn't be doing this
for financial gain, would you?

We are not interested in anyone's money.

But you have plenty of interest
in giving interviews, don't you?

In the last few weeks,
the people of this country

have heard more from you
than our prime minister.

I don't have money or power.
I must use the tools I can.

Mrs. Krishnamoorthy,
I really admire it. Really.

And as a mother, I mean...

If I had lost my kids, I wouldn't
be able to get out of my bed.

- Much less give interviews.
- Your Honor...

I'm trying to establish motivation.

Thank you.

I see you on TV all the time.

But never so much as a tear in your eyes.

I suppose you don't need to cry
when the whole city weeps for you.

Not for your children,

not for the other victims,
not for their families,

but for you, everyone is crying for you.

I never wanted that.

Of course, not! You just want justice.

And that's the reason
you blame my clients.

Even though it's clear their only fault

was owning this particular cinema

and in fact being the most
established businessmen in the city.

Maybe this incident,

has made you forget the difference
between justice and revenge.

Honestly, I sympathize
with these lapses of yours.

Like the one
at Mr. Gujral's daughter's wedding.

Sir, in fact I have a statement from...

From Mrs. Shalini Aggarwal.

Your neighbor, whom you coerced
18 months ago into illegally attending

a government official's
private wedding party. Isn't that right?

That time I was in shock.

I had just lost my children.

Mrs. Krishnamoorthy,
are you fine right now?

I have to ask you.

Because this week
you told Mrs. Shalini Aggarwal

that you want to k*ll Mr. Keswani
with the judge's gavel.

We have her complete
written statement right here.

- So, Mrs. Krishnamoorthy, let's...
- My children did not die from that fire.

They choked to death on the smoke.

Because the balcony doors were locked.

- That's why they couldn't escape.
- I object!

If they weren't locked,
they would have survived.

Just like the people in the main hall.

Madam, you've suggested
that I've lost my mind.

Or that I'm doing this
for money or publicity.

You can keep saying these things.

But that does not change the truth, right?

The truth is,

that they locked my kids in that balcony
without any safety measures.

They left them to die.

And what did they do after?
They took their money and hid.

- I object, sir.
- Not only that, madam.

Instead of comforting
the grieving families

they put that disgusting advertisement
in the newspaper,

claiming they did nothing wrong.

They blamed everyone else.

When even you know that the police FIR,
Girish Kumar's report,

and CBI charges,
all hold them responsible.

So you tell me, after all this,

if I don't seek justice in court,
what else should I do?

Does that make me crazy? You tell me.

Ma'am...

Mrs. Krishnamoorthy, is there anything
you'd like to say to the Ansals?

Ma'am, a comment. Please!

Ma'am...

Shalini...

I can't believe it.

You were incredible!

The place we came from

That place is forever

The place we came from

That place is forever

There is no water, no air

No land and no sky

There is no water, no air

No land and no sky

There is no moon or sun

Nor is there any night or day

There is no moon or sun

Nor is there any night or day

The place we came from

That place is forever

The place we came from

That place is forever

There is no water, no air

No land and no sky

There is no water, no air

No land and no sky

There is no moon or sun

Nor is there any night or day

The place we came from

That place is forever

The place we came from