A Goa court has granted bail to Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, owners of the fire-ravaged nightclub Birch by Romeo Lane, in a forgery case, clearing the path for their release from jail, reported the PTI.
The brothers had previously secured bail in connection with the December blaze that claimed 25 lives.
Advocate Parag Rao, representing the Luthras, stated that Judicial Magistrate First Class (Mapusa) Jude Sequeira granted regular bail to the accused in the forgery matter. Rao confirmed that the brothers will soon be released from custody.
The Luthras have been instructed to report to Mapusa police station daily for the next five days. Rao added that they are awaiting the detailed judgment.
Allegations of forgery
The case concerns allegations that the Luthra brothers used forged documents, including a fabricated No Objection Certificate (NOC), to obtain permissions and an excise licence to operate their nightclub in Arpora village, North Goa.
Police allege that the forged NOC was later used to secure other regulatory clearances.
Previous bail in fire case
A Mapusa sessions court had already granted bail to the brothers on April 1 in connection with the deadly fire at Birch by Romeo Lane on December 6, 2025.
Following the fire, the brothers reportedly fled to Thailand, from where they were deported to India on December 17 and subsequently arrested by Anjuna police.
Ongoing investigation
The forgery case was filed after a complaint by the health officer of Candolim Primary Health Centre, who claimed that his signature had been forged to obtain the health NOC.
The nightclub fire prompted a comprehensive investigation into fire safety violations, licensing procedures, and alleged negligence in the operation of the club.
Bail to co-owner
Meanwhile, last month, a district court in Goa`s Mapusa had granted bail to Ajay Gupta, co-owner of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub.
Gupta had been arrested in New Delhi over three months ago before securing bail, his counsel had stated earlier.
The tragic blaze occurred on December 6 at the nightclub in Goa, resulting in 25 fatalities and leaving several others injured. The incident triggered widespread outrage and prompted a detailed investigation into safety lapses, according to the ANI.
(with PTI and ANI inputs)