In a significant new development in the investigation into the tragic Arpora nightclub incident that claimed 25 lives on December 6, the Goa police have registered a fresh First Information Report (FIR). This new case targets individuals associated with the venue, Birch by Romeo Lane, for allegedly forging a crucial health officer's certificate to obtain an excise licence.
Fresh Allegations of Forgery Emerge
The latest FIR, filed on Monday, contains serious allegations from Dr. Roshan Nazareth, the health officer at Candolim Primary Health Centre. Dr. Nazareth stated that before December 13, 2025, authorised persons from Birch, which is operated by Being GS Hospitality LLP, impersonated him and forged his signature. The accused allegedly made a fraudulent entry in the official register to create a forged No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the health department.
"The accused persons intentionally prepared a no objection certificate issued by me to seek an excise licence," Dr. Nazareth stated in the FIR. The Mapusa police elaborated that the suspects then knowingly submitted this forged NOC as genuine to the excise department. This deceptive act reportedly enabled them to complete the documentary process and successfully obtain the excise licence, thereby cheating the authorities.
Court Proceedings and Extended Custody
Meanwhile, the Mapusa court extended the police remand of the nightclub's owners, brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthras, by four days. They will now be produced before the court on Friday. When Judge Suman Gad asked the accused if they wished to say anything, Saurabh Luthra responded, "We want to cooperate with the investigation."
During the hearing for police custody, Assistant Public Prosecutor Prilam Phadte informed the court that new facts had emerged during the interrogation of the accused, which required verification. The Anjuna police had requested an eight-day custody extension for the brothers.
Defence counsel Parag Rao stated that his clients were not objecting to police custody and had provided uninterrupted access to all documents. However, he argued against the eight-day request, stating that one cannot "play with the liberty of the accused." Phadte countered that the licence instrument submitted by the nightclub's manager and a second document recovered during the probe were different, indicating forgery. He emphasized that police custody was necessary to recover original documents and verify these facts.
Expanding Investigation and Absconding Figure
In another crucial update, prosecutor Phadte revealed that UK national Surinder Kumar Khosla, the owner of the Arpora property where the nightclub operated, is currently absconding. Authorities are actively seeking him in connection with the case.
Furthermore, the Mapusa police have moved a transfer warrant application before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court in Mapusa. They seek to take custody of Ajay Gupta, one of the partners of Birch by Romeo Lane. Gupta was remanded to 14 days of judicial custody on Monday, and the hearing on the transfer warrant has been scheduled for Tuesday.
The tragic incident at the Arpora nightclub continues to unravel through a complex web of alleged regulatory breaches and forgery, with the police investigation intensifying on multiple fronts to ascertain the full chain of responsibility.
