‘Ignored safety, fled to Phuket’: Why HC cancelled bail to Goa nightclub owners
The two brothers, Saurav and Gaurav Luthra, along with their business partner Ajay Gupta were granted bail by the trial court on April 1
The Bombay High Court in Goa recently overturned bail granted to the co-owners of a nightclub in North Goa, after it determined the owners had "overlooked the gravity of the offence". The court's 28-page verdict, released on Wednesday, highlighted that the respondents - Saurav and Gaurav Luthra, along with Ajay Gupta - had "intentionally ignored safety standards" while managing the restaurant, Birch by Romeo Lane.
The tragedy, which occurred on December 6, 2025, resulted in the deaths of 25 people, including five tourists and 20 staff members. The court pointed out that the restaurant had operated without proper licenses, and that the owners had procured a trade license by distorting the house number, and forged a health NOC to acquire an excise license.
The absence of fire extinguishers and other safety installations led to the devastating fire. The court emphasized that the owners could not have been issued licenses because the structure itself was unauthorized. Additionally, the court noted that the respondents had fled to Phuket, Thailand, after the incident, further demonstrating their deliberate disregard for any responsibility for the tragedy that led to the loss of 25 innocent lives.
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