Bail challenged: HC notice to Birch partner

Panaji: The Bombay high court on Thursday issued a notice to Birch by Romeo Lane co-owner Ajay Gupta in a petition filed by the state challenging bail granted to him in the forgery case registered at Mapusa police station.A Mapusa court granted Gupta, 55, bail in the health NOC forgery case on Feb 7. The separate FIR was registered at Mapusa police station on the complaint of Candolim health centre officer during investigations into the fire at Arpora that killed 25 persons on Dec 6 last year.The Mapusa court, while granting bail, observed that the alleged NOC forged nowhere mentioned that it was for obtaining excise licence or, for that matter, selling liquor.On Wednesday, the Luthra brothers were also released on bail in the same forgery case after earlier securing bail in the main fire case.