PANAJI
Goa Police have fast tracked their investigation into the fatal fire at Birch nightclub, with a team dispatched to New Delhi to arrest the owners of the property.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed that the team has left for Delhi, hours after police stating that the owners would be summoned for questioning.
Anjuna Police have registered a case of culpable homicide, acts endangering life or personal safety, and other serious offences against the owners, and five persons -- Rajiv Modak (49), Chief General Manager; Priyanshu Thakur (32), Gate Manager; Rajveer Singhania (32), Bar Manager; and Vivek Singh (27), General Manager who are already in custody.
The FIR has been registered under Sections 105, 125, 125(a), 125(b), 287 read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
In a late evening media update, senior police officer states that they are camping at the police station to supervise the investigation. PI Suraj Gawas is the investigating officer, and the probe is being monitored round-the-clock.
The State Police Control Room received the first distress call at 12.02 hrs, following which the emergency response system was activated. PCR vans Robot 10, 11, 12, 17 and 19 reached the site and assisted in evacuation, coordination and securing the premises.
All the 25 bodies were shifted to GMC Bambolim. Postmortem examinations have been completed on 17 victims, and five bodies have been handed over to relatives.
Of the six injured persons, one has been discharged, while five remain admitted.
