Birch inferno case: Cops file chargesheet against 13

Panaji: Goa police on Thursday filed a 4,150-page chargesheet against 13 accused persons, including the owners of nightclub Birch by Romeo Lane, Gaurav Luthra, Saurabh Luthra and Ajay Gupta, in connection with the inferno that killed 25 persons on Dec 6, 2025.

Anjuna police registered the FIR against the accused, partners, manager, event organiser and other managing staff of Birch by Romeo Lane, Arpora, for not taking proper care and caution, not providing fire safety equipment and other safety gadgets, and organising a fire show, which resulted in a serious fire due to which 25 innocent people died.


Altogether, 305 different witnesses were examined in the case.

The chargesheet was filed before the judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) at Mapusa.

“After conducting a detailed investigation, the chargesheet was filed against 13 accused persons,” Anjuna PI Suraj Gawas said.

The Luthra brothers and Gupta are the partners of Being G S Hospitality Goa Arpora LLP and the owners of Birch by Romeo Lane Bar & Restaurant/Club, Gawas said.

The other accused named in the chargesheet include corporate general manager Rajiv Modak, general manager Vivek Singh, operation manager Bijay Kumar Singh, gate manager Priyanshu Thakur and bar manager Rajveer Singhania.

Then Arpora Nagoa sarpanch Roshan Redkar, then Arpora Nagoa panchayat secretary Raghuvir Bagkar, event company K-Dance Events Pvt Ltd director Mayur Kolwalkar, K-Dance Events Pvt Ltd general manager Mohammed Afif Abdulsab Bateri and property owner Surinder Kumar Khosla are also named in the chargesheet.

Gawas said that a non-bailable warrant of arrest and subsequently a proclamation was issued against Khosla. Thereafter, a blue corner notice was issued against him to secure his presence for the investigation. “However, he is still absconding,” the PI said.

When the fire broke out at the nightclub at around 11.45pm on Dec 6, there were more than 150 tourists attending an event. A preliminary investigation by police and the directorate of fire and emergency services concluded that the fire broke out after electric firecrackers struck the wooden ceiling during the event.