Goa sessions court grants bail to Luthra brothers in Goa nightclub fire case

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

The court granted bail to the brothers on a bond of ₹50,000 each.

It also directed that they must not tamper with witnesses or evidence and cannot leave the country without prior permission of the court.

A detailed copy of the order is awaited.

The case relates to the fire that broke out on the night of December 6, 2025 at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in North Goa’s Arpora, resulting in the death of 25 people and injuring several others.

The Luthra brothers 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 organisers and staff under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for offences including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, acts endangering life and negligent conduct with respect to fire, read with common intention.

According to the police, the nightclub was allegedly operating without the requisite licences and safety clearances, and a fire show organised at the venue was conducted without adequate precautions, which led to the blaze.

Initial investigations by the Goa Police alleged negligence on the part of the club owners in adhering to safety norms and maintaining essential fire-fighting infrastructure.

Previously, a sessions court in Goa had rejected the bail pleas of the Luthra brothers in February, taking note of the seriousness of the allegations.

In a separate but connected FIR, authorities also alleged that documents used to obtain licences for the nightclub were forged.

In that case, Saurabh Luthra’s anticipatory bail plea was rejected by a sessions court in North Goa on March 27.

Meanwhile, multiple investigations and regulatory proceedings are continuing in relation to the nightclub fire and the circumstances in which the establishment was permitted to operate.

The Luthra brothers were represented by Senior Advocate Subodh Kantak, instructed by Advocates Parag Rao, Vaibhav Suri and Saud Khan of SKRB Law Offices, Delhi.