The owners of the ill-fated Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa have moved court seeking bail in connection with the devastating fire that claimed 25 lives last month. Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra filed their bail applications, with the court likely to hear their pleas in the coming week.
Forgery Case and Separate FIR
In a parallel and serious development, the duo has also filed anticipatory bail applications before the Mapusa court concerning a separate forgery case. This case relates to allegations of using forged documents to obtain an excise licence for the nightclub. The court is scheduled to hear these anticipatory bail pleas on Wednesday.
Panchayat Officials Challenge Bail Rejection
Meanwhile, the legal fallout from the tragedy has ensnared local officials. The disqualified Arpora-Nagoa sarpanch, Roshan Redkar, and the dismissed panchayat secretary, Raghuvir Bagkar, have approached the high court. They have filed petitions challenging the Mapusa court's decision to dismiss their own anticipatory bail applications.
The Mapusa court, while rejecting their bail, made strong observations. It stated that the investigation had uncovered glaring omissions and gross illegalities in the issuance of the trade licence to Birch by Romeo Lane. The court noted that the licence was issued hastily and without following the prescribed procedure.
Custodial Interrogation Deemed Necessary
The court emphasized that the custodial interrogation of Redkar and Bagkar was essential. This step is deemed necessary to uncover their motive behind rushing through the trade licence issuance and bypassing the standard procedures set by the directorate of panchayats.
This legal action follows the submission of the magisterial inquiry report on December 24. The report is expected to provide further official insights into the causes and failures that led to the catastrophic fire, one of Goa's deadliest.
