Overview
- A district court in Mapusa granted bail to co-owner Ajay Gupta with a Rs 50,000 surety, passport surrender, no overseas travel without permission, and a bar on tampering with evidence.
- Gupta was arrested in New Delhi more than three months ago in a case over a December 6 fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, North Goa, that killed 25 people.
- Goa Police have filed a 4,150-page chargesheet that names 13 accused and draws on statements from more than 300 witnesses.
- Police say the venue staged a fireworks show without required fire-safety gear and lacked proper emergency exits, which they argue put patrons and staff at risk.
- Gupta’s lawyer says the chargesheet does not assign him any role in the tragedy and disputes alleged document forgery, as the wider case proceeds alongside the dismissal of two local panchayat officials for negligence tied to the club’s approvals.