HomeLegal NewsGoa court grants bail to Ajay Gupta in Arpora nightclub fire case
Appearing for Gupta, advocate Rohan Desai argued that his client had no active role in the club’s day-to-day operations and was implicated solely due to his status as a business partner.
By CNBCTV18.com March 24, 2026, 7:10:29 PM IST (Published)
A sessions court in Goa on March 23 granted bail to Ajay Gupta, a partner in the venture behind the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, where a fire in December 2025 claimed 25 lives, including five tourists.
Gupta, named alongside main accused Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, was released on a bond of ₹50,000. The court directed him to surrender his passport and barred him from leaving the country or tampering with evidence.
Appearing for Gupta, advocate Rohan Desai argued that his client had no active role in the club’s day-to-day operations and was implicated solely due to his status as a business partner. He maintained that Gupta’s involvement was limited and that there was no evidence of direct participation.
The prosecution alleged that a no-objection certificate submitted for the club’s operations was forged. However, Desai contended that Gupta had no role in preparing or filing the document. The defence also argued that with over 300 witnesses listed for trial, keeping Gupta in custody served no purpose until proceedings conclude.
A sessions court had earlier rejected bail pleas filed by the main accused. Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate is conducting a separate probe into alleged money laundering linked to the nightclub’s operations.
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Anjali Jha