In a significant development in the investigation of the devastating Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub fire, a local court in Mapusa, North Goa, has remanded co-owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra to five-day police custody. The decision, delivered on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, follows the duo's deportation from Thailand and their subsequent transfer to Goa under a transit remand.
Custody and Medical Examination
The Luthra brothers were produced before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) in Mapusa following their arrival from Delhi earlier in the day. Before the hearing, the court ordered a fresh medical examination of the accused at the District Hospital in North Goa after one of the siblings reportedly complained of chest pain and uneasiness during an initial check-up at a health center in Siolim. Following the health assessment, the court granted the Goa Police five days of custody to interrogate the brothers regarding the massive safety lapses at their establishment.
#WATCH | Goa's Birch by Romeo Lane fire incident | Mapusa Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court in Goa grants 5-day Police custody of Luthra brothers - Saurabh and Gaurav.
— ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2025
Visuals from the Court as the brothers are being brought out after hearing. https://t.co/K4FKQ4jRLQ pic.twitter.com/sWawIJufMM
The Fugitives' Return
The case stems from the tragic fire on December 6, 2025, which claimed 25 lives in Arpora. Investigators revealed that the Luthra brothers booked flight tickets to Phuket, Thailand, just 90 minutes after the blaze broke out, successfully fleeing the country before an arrest warrant could be executed. Their escape triggered a global manhunt, leading to the cancellation of their passports and the issuance of an Interpol Blue Corner Notice. They were eventually detained by Thai authorities on December 11 and deported to India on Tuesday.
Serious Allegations of Negligence
The Goa Police have charged the brothers with culpable homicide not amounting to murder and endangering public safety. Preliminary reports from the fire department and police suggest that the nightclub lacked mandatory fire extinguishers, emergency exits, and valid safety permits. Furthermore, the establishment was allegedly operating on an expired panchayat license for nearly 18 months. With the owners now in custody, the police aim to uncover the full extent of the management's negligence and identify any administrative collusion that allowed the venue to operate illegally.
