A sessions court in Goa on Thursday rejected the bail plea of Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, in connection with the December 2025 fire that killed 25 people including five tourists in Arpora.

The Luthra brothers had fled to Thailand hours after the blaze before they were later deported and arrested by Goa Police. 

They were booked along with other partners, the club’s manager, event organiser and staff under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for offences including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, acts endangering life and negligent conduct with respect to fire, read with common intention.

As per the FIR, the nightclub was operating without the requisite licences and the club managers organised a fire show without taking proper care and caution or providing adequate fire safety equipment which resulted in the blaze that killed 25 people.

The Luthra brothers argued in their bail applications that Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) did not apply to them. 

However, the court rejected the bail plea taking note of the gravity of the incident. 

The Enforcement Directorate is separately probing alleged money laundering linked to the nightclub and has claimed that the entity operating Birch by Romeo Lane generated about ₹22 crore over the last two financial years, suspected to be proceeds of money laundering.

Advocate Vishu Joshi appeared for some of the victims’ families.

Advocate Parag Rao represented the Luthra brothers.

A detailed copy of the order is awaited.