Goa Court Orders All Accused in Birch by Romeo Lane Fire Case to Appear for Trial on March 16
A judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) court in Mapusa, Goa, has issued a directive requiring all 14 individuals accused in the Birch by Romeo Lane fire case to be present on March 16 before the principal sessions court, North Goa, located in Panaji. This court will officially commence the trial proceedings for the case, which stems from a devastating fire that resulted in 25 fatalities on December 6.
Details of the Accused and Their Legal Status
The accused include a range of individuals connected to the establishment and its operations. Among them are the Luthra brothers, Ajay Gupta, the managers of the club, as well as the former secretary and sarpanch of the Arpora village panchayat. Notably, property owner Surinder Kumar Khosla is currently absconding and has not been apprehended by authorities.
Six of the accused are currently held in judicial custody. This group comprises Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, Ajay Gupta, the club's corporate general manager Rajiv Modak, general manager Vivek Singh, and operational manager Bijay Kumar Singh. The court has specifically ordered that these individuals be produced before the principal sessions court in Panaji on the morning of March 16.
All other accused parties have been directed to remain present on the same date. Those on bail include gate manager Priyanshu Thakur, bar manager Rajveer Singhania, then Arpora panchayat sarpanch Roshan Redkar, then panchayat secretary Raghuvir Bagkar, and Bharat Koli, who oversaw the daily operations of the club. Additional accused are event company K-Dance Events director Mayur Kolwalkar and general manager Mohammed Afif Abdulsab Bateri.
Background of the Case and Charges
Last month, the Goa Police filed an extensive 4,150-page chargesheet against the accused persons in connection with the inferno. The First Information Report (FIR) was registered against the accused, partners, managers, event organisers, and other managing staff of Birch by Romeo Lane. The charges allege a failure to take proper care and caution, not providing adequate fire safety equipment and other safety gadgets, and organising a fire show that ultimately led to the serious fire incident.
In the investigation process, approximately 305 different witnesses were examined to gather evidence and build the case. This thorough examination underscores the complexity and severity of the incident, which has drawn significant public and legal attention in Goa.
The upcoming trial on March 16 marks a critical step in the judicial process, as the court seeks to address the allegations and determine accountability for the tragic event that claimed multiple lives.
