Bengaluru (PTI): Rameshwaram Cafe, a popular eatery that witnessed a bomb blast at its Brookefield branch here on Friday, said it is cooperating with authorities and officials in their investigation.

In a statement, it said: "We are deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident at our Brookefield branch. We are cooperating with the authorities and officials in their investigations."

Co-founder and managing director of the cafe, Divya Raghavendra Rao, said, "Our thoughts are with the injured and their families, and we are offering them all the support, assistance and care they need and praying for their speedy recovery."

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The Bengaluru Police has registered a case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Explosives Substances Act in connection with the explosion at the cafe.

According to police, 10 people, including staff and customers, were injured in the blast. The bomb exploded between 12:50 pm and 1 pm. However, there was no loss of life.

Forensic experts and the bomb disposal squad visited the spot, police said, adding that the case is being investigated from all angles.

Meanwhile, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, who is also the MP from the Dharwad constituency in Karnataka, along with Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot and state BJP president Vijayendra Yeddyurappa, visited the injured people at a hospital.

Taking to X, Joshi said, "The inhumane incident that took place at Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru today is really condemnable. I met the injured along with Governor and BJP state President and inquired about the situation."

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Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.

Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.

Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.

An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.

The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.

A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.

Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."

"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.

"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.

A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.