Accused in nightclub fire case has fled to UK, shielded by `big guys', claims original land owner
Panaji (PTI): Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar, original owner of the land on which the fire-ravaged nightclub in North Goa stood, alleged on Friday that "some big guys" were protecting Surinder Kumar Khosla, one of the accused in the case.
In an interview with PTI, Amonkar claimed that police allowed Khosla, a British national, to flee to the UK after the devastating fire at `Birch by Romeo Lane' club at Arpora village claimed 25 lives on December 6.
Amonkar has been fighting a legal battle against Khosla to get the land back from him. Goa police, who has arrested eight persons including club owners Saurabh Luthra, Gaurav Luthra and Ajay Gupta, have named Khosla as an accused in the same First Information Report over the blaze. Police were still looking for Khosla, according to a senior official.
"The demolition order by the village panchayat against the club was in Khosla's name. All the complaints filed against the club named Khosla. He is the prime accused," Amonkar claimed.
But despite being the "prime accused", Khosla managed to flee the country as "some big guys are protecting him," he said, adding that the Arpora-Nagoa panchayat gave permission to the nightclub despite being informed in writing that the land did not belong to those who had sought the permission.
Amonkar recently filed a civil suit against Khosla before the Goa Bench of the Bombay High court which was converted into a Public Interest Litigation to fix accountability for the fire tragedy.
Talking about his association with Khosla, Amonkar said he had initially rented out 24 out of 107 apartments constructed on the piece of land adjacent to the club to Khosla in 2004.
According to Amonkar, six months after entering into an agreement to sell his land to Khosla, he withdrew his consent as no payment was received, but Khosla did not restore the possession to him and allowed a nightclub to be set up on the land.
Khosla was "very much in Goa" when the fire incident took place as he was supposed to attend a court hearing, said Amonkar.
He believed that the investigation was on the right track, but had some doubts as Khosla was not arrested, he said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Priyanka Gandhi urges Nitin Gadkari to expedite road projects in Kerala's Wayanad
Wayanad/New Delhi (PTI): Congress MP from Wayanad Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday said she met Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, seeking his intervention to expedite pending road infrastructure works in her constituency, including those aimed at addressing landslide issues at the Thamarassery pass.
Sharing photographs of the meeting on the social media platform 'X', Priyanka said Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, heard her concerns and sought updates from the relevant officials.
In her post, she expressed hope that the pressing issues she raised, which directly affect public safety and daily life, would receive the attention and urgency they deserve.
“Met respected Gadkari to raise issues concerning my constituency, Wayanad, and urged that pending works be expedited without further delay. He was kind enough to hear my concerns and get updates from the relevant officers,” she said.
ALSO READ: PM, Union ministers, Priyanka Gandhi, others meet Speaker Birla after Lok Sabha adjourned sine die
“I sincerely hope these pressing issues, which directly affect people’s safety and daily lives, will receive the attention and urgency they deserve,” she added.
A day earlier, Priyanka had sought an appointment with Gadkari in Parliament, saying she had been seeking an opportunity since June to discuss issues related to her constituency.
Responding to her request, the minister had said his doors were always open and that she could meet him at any time.
She subsequently met him at his office later the same day.
Met respected Shri @nitin_gadkari to raise issues concerning my constituency, Wayanad, and urged that pending works be expedited without further delay.
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) December 19, 2025
He was kind enough to hear my concerns and get an update from the relevant officers.
I sincerely hope these pressing issues… pic.twitter.com/UkxnXP6gxn
