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Goa Police File 4,150-Page Charge Sheet in Arpora Nightclub Fire, Name 13 Accused

The filing moves the case to court, with prosecutors alleging licence forgery, severe safety lapses and illegal operations.

Overview

  • Anjuna police submitted the charge sheet to the Mapusa Judicial Magistrate, listing 305 witnesses in the December 2025 blaze that killed 25 people.
  • Those charged include co-owners Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, partner Ajay Gupta, five club managers, two former ArporaNagoa panchayat officials, and two event-company executives.
  • Property owner Surinder Kumar Khosla, a UK national, remains absconding under an Interpol Blue Notice, while most other accused are in judicial custody and two managers are on bail.
  • Investigators allege the accused used a forged house number to obtain licences and ran the venue on a saltpan without fire clearances, adequate exits or trained staff.
  • Authorities say electrically triggered pyroguns used during a performance likely sparked the fire, and the court has summoned the two event-company officials to appear on March 6.