A Mapusa court on Monday extended the police custody of the Luthra brothers – Saurabh and Gaurav – till December 26. Let us tell you that the Luthra brothers are co-owners of ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub, in which 25 people died and many others were injured in the fire that broke out on December 6. The Mapusa Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court has extended his custody.
Apart from this, Mapusa Judicial Council Court sent Ajay Gupta to judicial custody for 14 days. Gupta is the third partner of Birch by Romeo Lane.
Earlier, on December 16, the Luthra brothers were brought to Goa from Delhi after being deported from Thailand. A Delhi court had given 48-hour transit remand of the accused to Goa Police after they landed at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.
On December 17, the accused were produced in the Mapusa Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court after their arrest at Delhi airport. The court had sent both the brothers to police custody for five days.
Advocate Vishnu Joshi, representing the victim’s family, told ANI that new revelations have emerged in which the police allege that the brothers’ business licenses and other related documents were forged.
The Arpora nightclub fire on December 6 claimed the lives of 25 people, following which the government has initiated criminal proceedings against the club owners for alleged negligence and violation of mandatory safety norms.
According to Goa Police, the fireworks were organized at the club without proper fire safety equipment and other necessary safety equipment. Police said that at this crucial stage of the investigation, the presence of the accused in custody in Goa is necessary.
Presenting their arguments before the Patiala House Court, Goa Police said that the accused were the main owners and partners of ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ located in Arpora area of North Goa and had complete control over the operations of the club, including security arrangements, permissions and events organized on the premises.
Police said the Luthra brothers staged the fire demonstration despite knowing that there were no emergency exits on the ground floor or deck of the restaurant for evacuation in case of an emergency.
Goa Police had registered a criminal case under Section 3(5) read with sections 105, 125, 125(A), 125(B) and 287 of the Indian Judicial Code 2023 at Arpora Anjuna police station in North Goa on December 7.