Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Sep 14: The three main accused in the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub fire case surrendered before the Mapusa Additional District and Sessions Court on Monday, nearly two weeks after the Supreme Court upheld the cancellation of their bail.

Nightclub owners Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, along with their business partner Ajay Gupta, appeared before the court after the Supreme Court directed them to surrender within two weeks. The court accepted their surrender and issued the necessary remand orders, according to their advocate Saumya Drago.

The case relates to the devastating fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, North Goa, on December 6, 2025. The blaze claimed 25 lives and left more than 50 people injured. The three accused were partners in M/s Being GS Hospitality Arpora LLP, which operated the nightclub.

The trial court had granted bail to the three accused in April 2026. However, the Goa government challenged the order before the Bombay High Court, which on August 18 cancelled their bail and directed them to surrender within two weeks. The High Court also allowed them to seek fresh bail.

The accused subsequently approached the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order. On August 31, a bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu refused to interfere with the cancellation of bail, dismissed their petitions and directed them to surrender within two weeks. The apex court also asked the trial court to expedite the proceedings, including the framing of charges.

The chargesheet in the case includes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, acts endangering human life, negligent conduct involving fire and combustible matter, forgery, use of forged documents as genuine and criminal conspiracy. The prosecution has alleged that the accused’s acts resulted in the deaths of 25 people.

The High Court, while cancelling the bail, had observed that the trial court had not properly considered material collected during the investigation. It also referred to allegations concerning the nightclub’s licences, the structure and fire-safety arrangements. These remain matters to be examined in the ongoing criminal proceedings.

After Monday’s surrender, advocate Saumya Drago said the defence had also sought certain medical accommodations for the accused based on their medical history, prescriptions and medical records. The court permitted their requests concerning medicines and a mattress, while keeping the request for special footwear pending and seeking a response from the investigating officer. The matter is expected to be taken up on the next working day.

The Luthra brothers had travelled to Thailand after the fire and were subsequently detained in Phuket. They were later brought back to India and arrested in connection with the case.

The Supreme Court’s direction to expedite the trial now paves the way for further proceedings in the case involving one of Goa’s deadliest nightclub fires.