Goa Fire Tragedy: Mapusa Court grants Bail to nightclub co-owner Ajay Gupta

A district court in Mapusa has granted bail to Ajay Gupta, one of the co-owners of the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub, where a devastating fire claimed 25 lives in December last year.

Gupta, who was arrested in New Delhi over three months ago, was granted bail on Monday by the district court in North Goa . The court ordered his release on a ₹50,000 surety and imposed conditions including surrendering his passport, not leaving the country without prior permission, and not tampering with evidence .

Appearing for the accused, advocate Rohan Desai argued that the police chargesheet does not establish any direct role of Gupta in the incident. He also dismissed allegations of document forgery as unfounded, stating that the voluminous chargesheet lacks concrete evidence against his client.

The fire broke out around midnight on December 6, 2025 , at the nightclub located in Arpora, resulting in the deaths of 25 individuals , including 20 staff members and five tourists . The incident is among the deadliest fire tragedies in Goa in recent years, raising concerns over fire safety compliance and regulatory oversight .

Following the tragedy, the Goa Police arrested 13 persons , including the nightclub’s owners Saurabh Luthra, Gaurav Luthra, and Gupta. On February 27 , police filed a 4,150-page chargesheet , based on statements from more than 300 witnesses .

The bail order has triggered mixed political reactions . Leaders from the opposition, including members of the Indian National Congress, criticised the development, alleging lapses in accountability and demanding stricter action against those responsible. Some opposition figures also called for a judicial probe into the incident.

Meanwhile, representatives from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Goa said the law is taking its course , emphasising that bail does not absolve the accused and that the trial will determine culpability .

The case continues to be closely watched, with victims’ families seeking justice and accountability for the tragic loss of lives.