Goa – A Goa court delivered critical bail decisions on Tuesday in the devastating Goa nightclub fire case that claimed 25 lives earlier this month. The court granted bail to two managers while rejecting the general manager’s plea, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the Birch By Romeo Lane tragedy.
Bail Granted to Bar and Gate Managers
Additional sessions judge Dvijple Patkar granted bail to bar manager Rajveer Singhania and gate manager Priyanshu Thakur of the nightclub where the catastrophic Goa nightclub fire occurred. The decision came with strict conditions designed to prevent any interference with the ongoing investigation.
Advocate Vinayak Parab, who represented Singhania and Thakur in the Goa nightclub fire case, confirmed that the bail was granted on the condition that the accused shall not, directly or indirectly, make any inducement, threat, or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case. These conditions aim to ensure the integrity of witness testimonies and evidence collection.
General Manager’s Bail Plea Rejected
In a contrasting decision regarding the Goa nightclub fire case, the court rejected the bail plea filed by Vivek Singh, the club’s general manager. This rejection suggests the court views Singh’s role in the tragedy as potentially more significant than that of the two managers who received bail.
Rajiv Modak, the chief general manager of the nightclub Birch By Romeo Lane, has not yet applied for bail, leaving his legal status pending as investigations continue into the Goa nightclub fire incident.
Pending Decisions on Restaurant Manager
The court has reserved its verdict in the bail plea filed by Bharat Singh Kohli, who managed the restaurants on behalf of the Luthras. Kohli’s role in the Goa nightclub fire case involves his management responsibilities for the dining establishments associated with the venue. The court is expected to deliver its ruling on Kohli’s bail application on December 26.
This reserved decision indicates the court requires additional time to evaluate Kohli’s specific responsibilities and potential culpability in the events leading to the Goa nightclub fire tragedy.
Village Officials Await Bail Decision
The court has also reserved its verdict in the anticipatory bail plea filed by village sarpanch Roshan Redkar and panchayat secretary Raghuvir Bagkar, both named as accused in the Goa nightclub fire case. Lawyer Nitin Sardesai, who represented sarpanch Redkar, confirmed that the court heard final arguments and reserved the matter for order on December 30.
Redkar and Bagkar face accusations for having failed to act against the allegedly illegal nightclub. However, they have argued that they cannot be held personally liable in the Goa nightclub fire case since the decision to grant a trade licence was taken by the panchayat body collectively.
Defence Arguments of Village Officials
The village officials maintain that a trade licence issued by the panchayat does not automatically permit the licence holder to run the premises without other mandatory permissions. This defence strategy in the Goa nightclub fire case attempts to distinguish between administrative licensing procedures and operational oversight responsibilities.
Their argument highlights the complex web of permissions and regulatory oversight that contributed to the circumstances surrounding the Goa nightclub fire incident.
Arrests and Deportation of Nightclub Owners
Four managers of the nightclub were among those initially arrested by police for the Goa nightclub fire that engulfed the entire premises of Birch By Romeo Lane on December 6. Hours after the tragedy, the Luthra brothers, Saurabh and Gaurav, fled to Phuket, Thailand.
The brothers were later deported from Thailand and arrested by Goa Police upon their return to Delhi on December 16. In their initial statements regarding the Goa nightclub fire, the brothers insisted they were not responsible for day-to-day operations and that this responsibility lay with the hired managers.
New Arrests for Forgery and Cheating
In a significant development in the Goa nightclub fire investigation, Goa Police has rearrested Ajay Gupta, described as the sleeping business partner of the Luthras. The rearrest follows charges of cheating and forgery after the ongoing investigation revealed that the company used a forged health no objection certificate to apply for various licences to run the premises.
This revelation adds another layer of criminal activity to the Goa nightclub fire case, suggesting systematic regulatory violations beyond the immediate fire safety failures.
Legal Charges Filed
The First Information Report filed on December 7 in the Goa nightclub fire case charges the accused under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. These include Section 105 for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, Sections 125(a) and (b) for endangering life and personal safety, and Section 287 for negligent conduct with fire or combustible matter.
These serious charges reflect the gravity of the Goa nightclub fire tragedy and the potential criminal liability of those involved in operating the establishment. The culpable homicide charges indicate prosecutors believe the deaths resulted from criminal negligence rather than mere accident.
Ongoing Investigation Impact
As the legal proceedings in the Goa nightclub fire case continue, the varied bail decisions demonstrate the court’s careful consideration of individual roles and responsibilities. The tragedy has exposed systemic failures in licensing, safety enforcement, and regulatory oversight that contributed to the loss of 25 lives in the devastating Goa nightclub fire.
