Goa nightclub fire accused surrender after Supreme Court cancels their bail
The three main accused in the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub fire case surrendered before a Goa court on Monday, two weeks after the Supreme Court rejected their pleas against the cancellation of their bail.
Nightclub owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, along with their business partner Ajay Gupta, appeared before the Mapusa Additional District and Sessions Court in compliance with the apex court’s direction.
The case relates to the fatal fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, North Goa, on December 6, 2025, in which 25 people were killed and several others were injured.
On August 31, the Supreme Court dismissed the trio’s petitions challenging the Bombay High Court order cancelling their bail, directed them to surrender within two weeks, and asked the trial court to expedite the proceedings.
Advocate Saumya Drago, appearing for the accused, confirmed that the court accepted their surrender and issued the necessary remand orders. She told reporters that an application had also been moved seeking certain medical accommodations for her clients on the basis of their medical history, doctors’ prescriptions and medical records.
According to Drago, the court allowed their request for medicines and a mattress. However, it kept their request for special footwear pending and sought a response from the investigating officer. The court is expected to take up the matter on the next working day, she said.
The Bombay High Court had cancelled the bail granted to the three accused on August 18, citing the seriousness of the case and the need for further legal proceedings. The three then moved the Supreme Court, which declined to interfere with the high court’s order.
As per the chargesheet, the accused have been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, acts endangering human life, negligent conduct with respect to fire and combustible matter, forgery, use of forged documents as genuine, and criminal conspiracy.
The chargesheet alleged that the “irresponsible acts” of the accused led to the deaths of 25 people in the mass-casualty incident and caused “irreparable loss” to their families.- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Sep 14, 2026 14:50 IST
