Panaji, Goa: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday accused Goa police of protecting the registered owner of the nightclub where a devastating fire claimed 25 lives, alleging that the police have failed to name him in the FIR. The allegations come amid ongoing investigations into the tragedy at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora, North Goa.

AAP Goa president Amit Palekar told PTI that the Arpora-Nagoa panchayat had issued a demolition notice in 2024 to Surinder Kumar Khosla, the registered property owner of the nightclub, following concerns about the safety of the structure. The notice was issued after a complaint by local resident Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar in 2023, which explicitly warned of the potential for a major accident at the club.

Palekar alleged that Khosla did not comply with the demolition notice. Instead, he approached the Directorate of Panchayat, which granted a stay on the order. Siddhi Halarnkar, then Director of Panchayat, is among three officers suspended by the state government following the fire.

Despite this background, Palekar claimed that Khosla’s name was absent from the FIR registered by Goa police. Instead, the FIR mentions the nightclub owners, Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra. The AAP leader suggested that Khosla, who has connections in the UK, might attempt to leave the country to evade investigation and stressed the urgency of probing his role in the incident.

Meanwhile, Goa police have arrested four staff members of Birch by Romeo Lane in connection with the fire. Those taken into custody include the chief general manager Rajiv Modak, general manager Vivek Singh, bar manager Rajiv Singhania, and gate manager Riyanshu Thakur.

The police have declined to comment on the allegations regarding Khosla or the demolition notice, stating that the investigation is ongoing. A senior officer said, “We are investigating the case, and at this point, we don’t want to make any statements.”

The controversy highlights concerns over regulatory lapses and accountability in the operation of nightclubs in Goa, raising questions about enforcement of safety norms and the role of property owners in preventing disasters. The AAP has called for urgent action to ensure a thorough investigation into all parties responsible for the tragic fire.