The Bombay High Court has directed the operator of the nightclub where the Arpora fire tragedy occurred to deposit ₹20 lakh each for its employees and five tourists who died in the incident. A Division Bench of Justices Valmiki Menezes and Amit S. Jamsandekar passed the order on November 2, 2026, while hearing a suo motu public interest litigation initiated following the fire incident, along with connected petitions.
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The direction came after counsel appearing for the victims sought compensation of ₹50 lakh for each victim. Opposing the demand, Senior Advocate S.S. Kantak, appearing for Respondent No. 53A LLP, stated that apart from the ₹2 lakh ex-gratia amount already paid, the LLP would deposit an additional ₹20 lakh for each of its employees. He further stated that the same amount would be deposited for five tourists who were present at the nightclub.
The Bench recorded the statement made by the senior counsel and directed that the amounts be deposited in three instalments:
● ₹5 lakh by November 16, 2026;
● ₹5 lakh by December 7, 2026; and
● ₹10 lakh by February 7, 2027.
The Court clarified that the deposits would be made as ex-gratia payments and would be adjusted against any compensation awarded in proceedings initiated by the victims. However, it specifically directed that if the final compensation awarded is lower than the amount deposited, the excess amount would not be refunded to the LLP.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on December 2, 2026.
Also Read: Bombay High Court Cancels Bail of Goa Nightclub Owners in Case Over Death of 25 Persons in Fire
Appearances
For the Petitioner: Mr. Terence Sequeira and Mr. Yash Kunde – Amicus Curiae; Mr. Ankur Kumar – for the petitioner in PIL WP No. 3223/2025; and Ms. A. Agni, Senior Advocate, with Ms. A. Rawool and Mr. Sharmak Mahajan – for the applicant in MCA No. 983/2026.
For the Respondents: Mr. Deep Shirodkar, Additional Government Advocate – for Respondent Nos. 1, 2, 4 to 13, 49 and 50; Mr. Hanumant D. Naik – for Respondent No. 14; Mr. Somnath Karpe, with Mr. Anand Shirodkar and Ms. Samiksha Vaigankar – for Respondent No. 17 and Respondent Nos. 3 and 5 in Criminal Writ Petition No. 207/2026; Mr. Devidas Pangam, Advocate General, with Ms. Maria Correia, Additional Government Advocate – for Respondent Nos. 1 to 5 and 8 to 11 in PIL WP No. 3223/2025; Mr. Nachiket Naik – for Respondent No. 18; Mr. Prayash Shirodkar – for Respondent No. 20; Ms. Natasha Rai – for Respondent Nos. 23 and 36; Mr. P. A. Kamat, with Ms. Pranita Gawandi – for Respondent Nos. 26, 27, 30, 31 and 44 to 47; Mr. Omkar V. Kulkarni – for Respondent No. 29; Ms. M. Fernandes and Ms. Dishanka Vernencar – for Respondent No. 33; Mr. Zeller D’Souza – for Respondent No. 35; Mr. Surendra Desai, Senior Advocate, with Mr. Parikshit Sawant – for Respondent No. 26 and Respondent No. 7 in PIL WP No. 3223/2025; Mr. Rohan P. Desai, with Mr. Ashay Priolkar – for Respondent No. 54(A); Mr. S. S. Kantak, Senior Advocate, with Mr. Parag Rao, Ms. Neha Kholkar, Mr. Akhil Parrikar and Ms. S. Drago – for Respondent Nos. 53, 53(A) and 54; Mr. Shivan Desai, with Ms. Riya Amonkar and Ms. Madhuja Vernekar – for Respondent Nos. 56 and 57; Mr. Jatin Ramaiya, with Mr. Omkar Thakur – for Respondent No. 58; Mr. Manish Salkar, Government Advocate – for Respondent No. 3 and Respondent No. 6 in PIL WP No. 3224/2025; Mr. Eeshan Jacques, Additional Government Advocate – holding for Mr. Neehal Vernekar in Criminal Writ Petition No. 207/2026; Mr. B. Oliveira – for Respondent No. 38 and holding for Mr. V. Vaz for Respondent No. 40; Mr. Ivan Santimano – for Respondent Nos. 42 to 47; Ms. Leona Barreto and Mr. Byron Rodrigues – for the Village Panchayat of Colva; Ms. V. Parab – for Respondent No. 32; Mr. Rishikesh Sahakari – for Respondent No. 43; Ms. Prachi Sawant – for the victims under the Legal Aid Scheme; Mr. B. Fatarpekar – for Respondent No. 28; Mr. Sahil Sardessai – for Respondent No. 37; Mr. A. F. Diniz, Senior Advocate, with Mr. Anugrah Ghatwal – for Respondent No. 51; Mr. V. Daniel – for Respondent No. 18.
High Court on Its Own Motion (Tragedy Taken Place at Arpora in a Tragic Fire Incident) v. State of Goa & Ors.
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