Panaji: A Goa district court on Tuesday granted bail to two managers of the Arpora-based nightclub ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’, nearly three weeks after a massive fire at the venue claimed 25 lives.

District Judge D. V. Patkar approved the bail applications of Rajveer Singhania and Priyanshu Thakur, who served as bar manager and gate manager respectively. However, the court dismissed a similar plea filed by another manager, Vivek Singh. All three were arrested on 7 December, a day after the late-night blaze tore through the club in North Goa.

Bail granted with strict conditions

Advocate Vinayak Parab, appearing for Singhania and Thakur, said the court imposed several conditions while allowing their release. The order states that the accused must not “directly or indirectly, make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case.”

The two men have been barred from leaving the country without prior written permission from the court. They must also remain available for questioning whenever summoned by the Investigating Officer and cooperate fully with the ongoing probe.

According to the bail order, “The applicants shall report before the IO or the PI Anjuna Police Station, once a month, preferably, on first Wednesday, until the filing of a chargesheet/final report.”

Deadly fire and expanding investigation

The blaze, which broke out around midnight on 6 December, killed 25 people – including 20 staff members and five tourists – making it one of the state’s deadliest nightclub tragedies in recent years.

Police have arrested eight individuals so far in connection with the incident. Among them are co-owners Gaurav Luthra and his brother Saurabh, who were deported from Thailand earlier this month to face charges in India.

(With inputs from PTI)