Panaji: A Goa court has granted bail to two managers of the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub who were arrested in connection with the fire that killed 25 people at the entertainment hotspot earlier this month.
District Judge D V Patkar on Tuesday granted bail with certain conditions to Rajveer Singhania and Priyanshu Thakur, both managers of the club, while it rejected a similar application by a third manager, Vivek Singh.
All three were arrested on December 7, a day after a devastating fire ripped through the nightclub at Arpora village in North Goa.
All three were taken into custody on December 7, a day after a massive fire engulfed the nightclub around midnight on December 6. The incident claimed the lives of 25 people, including 20 staff members and five tourists, according to officials.
Advocate Vinayak Parab, appearing for Singhania and Thakur, said the court imposed stringent conditions while granting bail. The court directed that the two accused must not directly or indirectly induce, threaten or promise any person acquainted with the facts of the case.
The court also ruled that the accused cannot leave India without prior written permission and must cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation. They have been instructed to make themselves available for questioning whenever required by the investigating officer.
As per the bail order, the two managers must report to the Investigating Officer or the Police Inspector of Anjuna Police Station once a month, preferably on the first Wednesday, until a chargesheet or final report is filed in the case.
So far, eight people have been arrested in connection with the fire. Among them are the two co-owners of the nightclub, Gaurav Luthra and his brother Saurabh, who were deported from Thailand and taken into custody upon their return.
Investigations into the cause of the fire and alleged safety lapses at the club are continuing, with police examining compliance with fire safety norms and operational procedures at the time of the incident.
