Daijiworld Media Network - Mapusa

Mapusa, Dec 18: Ajay Gupta, one of the co-owners of ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub in Goa, where 25 persons lost their lives in a devastating fire earlier this month, on Thursday filed a bail application before a court in Mapusa.

Gupta was arrested by the Goa Police in New Delhi on December 10 and was subsequently remanded to seven days’ police custody by a Mapusa court. He is presently lodged in the custody of the Anjuna police. The tragic fire broke out at the nightclub in Arpora, North Goa, around midnight on December 6, claiming the lives of 20 staff members and five tourists.

The bail plea was moved before the District Judge, Mapusa, with senior advocate Rohan Desai set to represent Gupta. The court is expected to hear the matter later in the day, and notices will be issued to the state police seeking their response.

So far, eight persons have been arrested in connection with the case, including Gupta and two other owners, Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra, who were deported from Thailand. Five staff members of the nightclub have also been arrested — Rajiv Modak (corporate general manager), Priyanshu Thakur (gate manager), Rajveer Singhania (bar manager), Vivek Singh (general manager), and Bharat Karan Singh Kohli (employee).

Police have also issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against Surinder Kumar Khosla, another co-owner of the nightclub who is a British national, as the investigation into one of Goa’s deadliest fire incidents continues.