The Supreme Court on Tuesday said real-estate barons Ansal brothers would undergo a two-year rigorous jail term in the 1997 Uphaar fire case if they failed to pay Rs 30 crore each within three months.

A three-judge bench presided over by Justice A R Dave took consideration of the fact that the brothers, Sushil (76) and Gopal Ansal (67), were of advanced age and hence if they paid Rs 30 crore each, i.e. Rs 60 crores, the sentence would stand reduced to the period already undergone (served during the pendency).

“For the reasons to be recorded hereafter, we direct that A-1 Sushil Ansal and A-2 Gopal Ansal shall stand sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for two years,” the bench, also comprising Justices Kurian Joseph and Adarsh Kumar Goel, said.In a two-page order released on Tuesday, the apex court gave the duo the maximum jail term of two years as enjoined under Section 304A (causing death by negligent act) of the Indian Penal Code.

The court said: “If they (Ansal brothers) fail to pay the aforestated amount within a period of three months from today, they shall undergo the sentence of two years each, excluding the term which they have already undergone.”