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Goa court remands Luthra brothers to 5-day police custody in nightclub fire case, denies request for mattress

During the remand hearing before the Judicial Magistrate First Class court in Mapusa, the counsel for the Luthra brothers sought permission for a mattress for the accused in police custody, citing some “medical concerns”.

3 min readPanajiDec 17, 2025 09:29 PM IST

North Goa: One of the Luthra brothers, co-owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, being escorted by police personnel after medical examination at the district hospital in connection with the December 6 fire incident that killed 25 persons, at Mapusa, in North Goa district, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (PTI Photo) (PTI12_17_2025_000246B)

One of the Luthra brothers, co-owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, being escorted by police personnel after medical examination at the district hospital in connection with the December 6 fire incident that killed 25 persons, at Mapusa, in North Goa district, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (PTI Photo)

A Goa court Wednesday remanded Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub where a fire on December 6 killed 25 people in North Goa’s Arpora, to five-days police custody.

Ten days after they fled to Thailand, within hours of the blaze at their nightclub, the Luthra brothers were brought to the state on Wednesday morning by a Goa police team.

During the remand hearing before the Judicial Magistrate First Class court in Mapusa, the counsel for the Luthra brothers sought permission for a mattress for the accused in police custody, citing some “medical concerns”. The court orally remarked that the medical examination had declared the accused fit.

New Delhi: Gaurav Luthra, co-owner of Goa's Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub where a massive fire killed 25 people, being produced before the Patiala House Court, in New Delhi, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. He, along with his brother Saurabh Luthra, was deported from Thailand on Tuesday and taken into custody by Delhi and Goa police as soon as they landed in Delhi. (PTI Photo/Arun Sharma)(PTI12_16_2025_000631A)

Gaurav Luthra, co-owner of Goa’s Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub where a massive fire killed 25 people, being produced before the Patiala House Court, in New Delhi, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. He, along with his brother Saurabh Luthra, was deported from Thailand on Tuesday and taken into custody by Delhi and Goa police as soon as they landed in Delhi. (PTI Photo)

One of the accused, Saurabh Luthra, told the court that he has an “L4-L5 problem in his spine” while his brother has a “tailbone-related concern.” He said, “During the medical examination, only an X-Ray was done. There was no MRI, which would flag this.”

The court examined their medical reports and directed the police to conduct another medical examination of the accused and deferred the proceedings. In the evening, when the hearing reconvened, the court denied the accused duo’s request for a mattress, stating that as per their medical reports, no such assistance is required.

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The court then remanded the accused to five days’ police custody. The duo will be produced in court on December 22.

The Goa Police took the Luthras into custody shortly after the duo landed at Delhi airport Tuesday, after they were deported from Thailand.

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They were taken to a primary health centre (PHC) in Siolim for a medical examination and then referred to the North Goa District Hospital for further evaluation.

Pavneet Singh Chadha

Pavneet Singh Chadha is the Goa Correspondent of The Indian Express. His reporting focuses intensely on the state of Goa, covering major developments in politics, governance, and significant local events, which establishes his high degree of Expertise and Authority in the region. Expertise Geographic Expertise: As the Goa correspondent, Pavneet provides on-the-ground, comprehensive coverage of Goa's political, social, and cultural landscape, ensuring readers receive timely and localized insights. Key Coverage Focus: His recent work demonstrates deep investigative capabilities and a focus on high-impact stories, including: Investigative Reporting: Extensive coverage of complex events such as major incidents (e.g., the Goa nightclub fire), tracing the legal, political, and safety lapses involved. Government and Law Enforcement: Detailed tracking of police actions, deportations, and legal proceedings related to significant local cases. Policy and Governance: Reporting on the judiciary (e.g., Goa High Court flagging illegal structures) and the actions of government departments. He tweets @pub_neat ... Read More

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