PANAJI: The Anjuna Police have filed a 4,150-page chargesheet in connection with the fatal fire at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora, listing 304 public witnesses during the investigation.
The fire, which broke out during a show at the bar and restaurant on December 6, 2025, claimed 25 lives and injured multiple tourists and staff. Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, owners of the nightclub, who are currently in judicial custody, are among the 13 accused who have been chargesheeted.
Police allege that the accused, including owners, partners, managers, and event staff, organized the fire show without proper safety measures. The establishment lacked fire safety equipment and emergency exits on both floors and was operating without necessary permits and licenses.
The chargesheet also includes Ajay Gupta of Gurugram, Haryana, along with corporate general manager Rajiv Modak, general manager Vivek Singh, and operations manager Bijay Kumar Singh, who are in judicial custody.
Managerial staff Priyanshu Thakur and Rajveer Singhania, former Arpora sarpanch Roshan Redkar, and ex-panchayat secretary Raghuvir Bagkar have also been taken into custody. K-Dance Events Private Limited Director Mayur Kolwalkar and general manager Mohammed Afif Abdulsab Bateri were involved in organizing the show. The property owner, Surinder Kumar Khosla, a British national, remains absconding despite a Blue Corner Notice.
The accused face charges including culpable homicide not amounting to murder and multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023.
