Panaji, Dec 23: A Goa court on Monday extended by five days the police custody of Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, in connection with the December 6 fire tragedy that claimed 25 lives, officials said.
The extension was granted on December 22, allowing investigators additional time to question the accused who have been booked by the Anjuna police for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and other related offences.
The Luthra siblings had fled to Thailand following the incident and were subsequently deported to India on December 17, after which they were taken into custody.
The court also remanded Ajay Gupta, another co-owner of the nightclub, to judicial custody as the police did not seek further custodial interrogation in his case.
Advocate Vishnu Joshi, representing the families of the victims, confirmed the development, saying, “The court has extended the police custody of Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra by five days.” He added, “Ajay Gupta has been remanded to judicial custody as the police did not seek an extension of his custody.”
According to police, eight persons have been arrested so far in the case. Authorities have also initiated the process for issuing a Blue Corner Notice against Surinder Kumar Khosla, a British national and an accused in the case, who is believed to have fled to the United Kingdom.
The fatal blaze has sparked intense scrutiny of fire safety measures and regulatory compliance at nightlife establishments across Goa, with officials indicating that inspections and enforcement drives are being stepped up in the wake of the tragedy.
