Goa nightclub fire case: Luthra brothers get bail in forgery case, set for release

A court in Goa on Wednesday granted bail to Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra , owners of the fire-ravaged Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, in a forgery case , clearing the way for their release from jail.

The Mapusa Judicial Magistrate First Class court granted regular bail to the brothers on a personal bond of ₹50,000 each , their lawyer Parag Rao said, adding that they have been directed to report to the Mapusa police station for the next five days . With bail now secured in both the forgery case and the fire tragedy case, the brothers are expected to walk out of jail after completing formalities.

The Luthra brothers had earlier obtained bail from a sessions court on April 1 in connection with the December 6, 2025 blaze at the Arpora nightclub that killed 25 people and injured over 50 , one of the deadliest such incidents in the coastal state.

Police said the forgery case relates to allegations that the brothers used forged documents, including a fake no-objection certificate (NOC) , to obtain permissions and an excise licence to run the nightclub. Investigators claim the forged NOC was later submitted to authorities to secure regulatory clearances for the establishment.

The case was registered by Mapusa police following a complaint from the health officer of the Candolim Primary Health Centre , who alleged that his signature had been forged and a fabricated entry made in the official register to obtain the health clearance required for the club.

According to investigators, the brothers fled to Thailand hours after the fire , boarding a flight from Delhi to Phuket, but were later deported to India on December 17 and arrested by Goa Police .

Police have since filed a 4,150-page chargesheet against 13 accused , including the Luthra brothers and their associates, alleging gross negligence, failure to follow mandatory safety norms and irregularities in obtaining licences for the nightclub. The chargesheet lists over 300 witnesses examined during the investigation.

Investigators also alleged that the club was operating without proper fire safety equipment or clearances , and that permissions were obtained using manipulated documents and incorrect property details.