Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of Goa’s Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, linked to the devastating fire that killed 25 people earlier this month, spent Wednesday night in the Anjuna lock-up without
a fan and had a simple meal of rice, dal, and pickle.
The duo, who used to lead a luxurious life, are spending their nights in the lockup without any mattress or blankets. A court in North Goa sent them to a five-day police custody in connection with the case.
Meanwhile, Goa Police have started interrogating both brothers in the case. The Luthra brothers were asked over 80 questions in connection with their associates’ roles, decision-making processes, financial aspects, event permissions, and the involvement of other partners, managers, and organisers, Times of India reported.
The duo, who had been produced before a court in Goa, had sought medical assistance from the court, claiming poor health.
The Luthras, through their lawyer P V Pavithran, asked the court to grant them a mattress in police custody as Saurabh “suffered from a problem related to the spinal disc” and Gaurav “suffered from a tailbone fracture problem”.
Judicial magistrate Puja Sardesai directed police to take the Luthras to a government hospital for a medical examination.
After this was completed, they were produced before the court. The judge consequently rejected the Luthras’ demand, noting that doctors at North Goa District Hospital declared them fit.
Advocate Vishnu Joshi, representing Bhavana Joshi who lost four family members in the tragedy, said that the accused were asking for “special consideration” claiming poor health.
“We said they should not be given any extra relaxation,” he said, adding that the court has taken cognisance of the fact that this is about the death of “25 people in the form of mass genocide”.
“But since they kept pressing for medical check-up, the court ordered reexamination of their health. It is clear in the medical examination that they don’t require any consideration. The accused sought special considerations in the lock-up like a good mattress, which the court refused,” Joshi said as quoted by news agency PTI.
The brothers were brought to Goa from Delhi after being deported from Thailand. They were brought back to Delhi on an emergency certificate on Tuesday, from where they were brought to Goa.
Goa Police took custody of the accused upon their arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport and completed the necessary legal formalities before presenting them in court.
The December 6 blaze, believed to have started during a fire show at the nightclub, prompted an Interpol Blue Corner Notice against them. The Luthra brothers had fled to Thailand’s Phuket hours after the blaze at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, which killed 25 people.
Charges Against Luthra Brothers
The Luthra brothers are facing a case of culpable homicide and negligence following the December 6 tragedy, which investigators allege was compounded by the nightclub operating in violation of mandatory fire safety norms. The incident raised serious questions over alleged fire safety violations and lapses by the management.
Goa Fire Tragedy
North Goa saw its worst fire tragedy at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora on December 6 night, which resulted in at least 25 deaths and six injuries. The nightclub was jam-packed as it was the weekend.
As per survivors, in no time, the entire club was engulfed in flames. “There was a temporary construction made up of palm leaves which easily caught fire,” he said.
A preliminary investigation by the police and the Directorate of Fire Services revealed that the blaze was triggered after electric firecrackers hit the wooden ceiling, causing the structure to catch fire rapidly.
Goa Police investigations have also found that the nightclub had allegedly been operating illegally for nearly 18 months without mandatory approvals and on an expired licence that had not been renewed since 2024.
The nightclub is situated in the backwaters of the Arpora river and has a narrow entry and exit. There was no access for fire brigade vehicles because of the narrow lanes and their tankers had to be parked about 400 metres away from the spot.
(With inputs from agencies)
