Goa Nightclub Fire: Delhi Court Denies Transit Anticipatory Bail To Owners Saurabh, Gaurav Luthra

A Delhi Court on Thursday denied transit anticipatory bail to Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa which caught fire and killed atleast 25 people.

Additional Sessions Judge Vandana of Rohini Courts passed the order. 

The prosecution opposed the bail pleas arguing that the Luthras evaded the investigating mechanism, manipulated authorities and fled the country immediately after the incident.

It was submitted that it was not a case where the Court should exercise its discretion and grant anticipatory bail.

Senior Advocate Tanveer Ahmed Mir appearing for the Luthras said that no notice to join the investigation was served to the duo and that non bailable warrants were issued straightaway against them.

He said that executive machinery was put in motion immediately as two restaurants owned by Luthras were bulldozed after the incident, indicating it to be an act of vengeance.

Yesterday, the Luthras had argued that the only relief they were seeking was to come back to the country and approach the appropriate courts at Goa.

Mir had argued that the Luthras cannot, by any stretch of imagination, be directly attributed even by vicarious liability. He had said that the nightclub has been managed by operational managers who have been taken into custody.

The incident happened in Arpora on December 06. The Luthras have reportedly fled the country. As per media reports, they are believed to have fled to Thailand's Phuket hours after the incident.

The Interpol has issued a Blue Notice against the Luthras to track their whereabouts.

The deceased comprised 20 employees of the nightclub and five tourists, including four from Delhi.

Other five injured individuals are undergoing treatment at the government-run Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), as per reports.

Reportedly, the police has so far arrested five people: the nightclub's chief general manager- Rajiv Modak, general manager- Vivek Singh, bar manager- Rajiv Singhania, gate manager- Riyanshu Thakur and Bharat Kohli.

The Goa Police today brought Ajay Gupta, one of the four owners of the nightclub, to the Sunlight Colony Crime Branch office in connection with the fire tragedy.