Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji

Panaji, Jul 2: Goa Police on Thursday filed a chargesheet against nightclub owners Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra in the second FIR related to the December 2025 fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora village that claimed 25 lives.

The 2,306-page chargesheet names five accused — brothers Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, their business partner Ajay Gupta of M/s Being GS Hospitality Goa Arpora LLP, Dinesh Khera and Excise Department clerk Gauresh Gawas — along with 50 witnesses.

According to the chargesheet, the Luthra brothers and Gupta allegedly submitted a forged no-objection certificate (NOC) from a local health centre while applying for an excise licence, which was subsequently granted.

Police said a health department NOC is mandatory for obtaining permission to operate a nightclub.

The fire broke out at the illegally operating Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in the intervening night of Dec 6 and 7, 2025, killing 25 people, including five tourists and 20 staff members.

Following the tragedy, the Luthra brothers allegedly fled to Thailand. They were later repatriated to India after an Interpol notice was issued against them and their passports were suspended.

The first FIR, registered on Dec 7, invoked provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, endangering life and personal safety, and negligent conduct involving fire or combustible material.

A second FIR was subsequently registered against the Luthra brothers and Ajay Gupta on charges of cheating and forgery for allegedly fabricating documents during the excise licence application process.

The chargesheet stated that the accused's alleged negligence and disregard for statutory safety norms resulted in the deaths of 25 people, causing "irreparable loss" to their families.

Police said further legal proceedings in the case will continue before the court.