Goa Nightclub Owner Claims Accused in 25-Death Fire Was Protected by 'Big Guys'

Image Source: Internet

A Goa nightclub owner has accused a key suspect in the devastating fire that claimed 25 lives of being protected by powerful individuals. Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar, the owner of the land on which the 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub stood, claims that Surinder Kumar Khosla, a British national, was allowed to flee to the UK after the fire on December 6. Amonkar, who has been engaged in a legal battle with Khosla over land ownership, alleges that Khosla was a prime suspect in the case and that the demolition order by the Arpora-Nagoa village panchayat was in his name. Despite complaints filed against the club naming Khosla, he managed to escape the country, claims Amonkar. The Goa Police have arrested eight individuals, including the club owners and their business partner, in connection with the case, but Khosla remains at large. Amonkar's association with Khosla dates back to 2004, when he rented out apartments to the British national. However, Amonkar claims that Khosla failed to pay for the land and instead allowed a nightclub to be constructed on it, signing a lease with the operating firm in 2023. The land dispute between Amonkar and Khosla has been ongoing, with Amonkar filing a civil suit against Khosla, which was later converted into a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to fix accountability for the fire. Amonkar claims that Khosla was in Goa when the fire occurred and was supposed to attend a court hearing, raising questions about his whereabouts and involvement in the case.