MAPUSA
A Mapusa court on Wednesday granted regular bail to Ajay Gupta, an accused in the alleged forgery of a Health No Objection Certificate (NOC) used to obtain an excise licence for Birch by Romeo Lane at Arpora, where a devastating fire killed 25 people on December 6, 2025.
Gupta was granted bail by the Mapusa JMFC on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and two sureties of an equivalent amount each.
The case stems from a complaint filed on December 13, 2025, by Candolim Primary Health Centre Health Officer Dr Roshan Nazareth.
The prosecution alleges that Gupta and the co-accused manipulated a Health NOC issued to another establishment and submitted it as genuine before the Excise Department.
Gupta was arrested on December 23, 2025, and initially granted bail in February.
However, the Bombay High Court set aside the bail order on August 18, following which the Supreme Court dismissed his challenge on August 31. He surrendered on September 14.
While granting bail, the court noted that the investigation was complete, the charge-sheet had been filed and no specific instance of witness interference during his earlier period on bail had been brought to its notice.
The court imposed strict conditions, including a ban on foreign travel without permission and contacting or influencing prosecution witnesses.
