PANAJI: A Goa judicial magistrate’s court on Friday (December 26, 2025) extended by three days, till December 29 the police custody of brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub where 25 people were killed in a devastating fire earlier this month.
The duo had fled to Thailand hours after the tragedy that occurred in Arpora village on December 6 and were deported from that nation on December 17.
The judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) of Mapusa court extended the police custody of Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra till December 29, their advocate Parag Rao told reporters.
Their initial 10-day police remand expired on Friday (December 26) and they were produced in court by the cops. The police asked for further custody as their investigation is still underway.
Rao said that his clients did not oppose the extension of custody, as they want to cooperate with the investigating officer.
The Luthras, who are currently in the custody of Anjuna police, were not at their nightclub when the blaze broke out, he said.
In a related development, Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant expressed deep condolences over the Arpora fire tragedy, saying many young lives were lost, including tourists on a well-earned break and workers supporting their families, calling it a profound loss for the bereaved families and the nation.
Meanwhile, the Goa bench of Bombay High Court has converted a civil suit against Birch by Romeo Lane at Arpora, where a devastating fire on December 6 killed 25 persons, into a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) observing “someone has to be held accountable in such kind of cases”. The next date of hearing is January 8, 2026.
The Bombay High court, Goa bench, observed that the local panchayat had failed to take suo motu cognisance of the club and had taken no action despite complaints. Commercial operations were going in the structure despite it being served a demolition order, the HC bench pointed out.
The original civil petition was filed by Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar and Sunil Divkar, owners of the land on which the nightclub stood.
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