Luthra Brothers' Plea For Pre-Arrest Bail Rejected By Delhi Court

In a significant development in the investigation of the Goa nightclub fire that claimed the lives of 25 people, a Delhi court has rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra. The brothers, who own the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa, face culpable homicide charges in connection with the deadly incident that occurred last week.

The court's decision, delivered on Thursday evening, comes amidst efforts by authorities to bring the Luthra brothers to justice. Following the fire on December 6, 2025, the brothers reportedly fled to Thailand. Prior to this ruling, a New Delhi court had already declined to grant them interim protection from arrest on Wednesday.

During the hearing, lawyers for the Luthra brothers argued that they had not fled the country but were on a pre-planned business trip. They further contended that the brothers were merely licensees of the nightclub, not the owners, and that the day-to-day operations were managed by the club's staff. This, they claimed, absolved the brothers of direct responsibility for the tragedy.

However, these arguments failed to convince the court. Goa Police counsel Abhinav Mukherjee argued that the brothers had falsely claimed minimal involvement in the business and that their travel abroad was pre-planned. The police presented several documents contradicting the Luthra duo's claims, including a Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) application filed by Saurabh Luthra, a Pollution Control Board application, and GST records showing both brothers and Ajay Gupta as partners.

The police also informed the court that the establishment's Panchayat license had expired and was not renewed, and that the business was operating without valid permission. The prosecution presented the license agreement as proof that the brothers lacked authorization to run the venue.

Furthermore, the prosecution maintained that the brothers booked their flight at 1:15 a.m. shortly after the fire, and flew to Thailand on December 7 at 5 a.m., calling the move an attempt to evade arrest. According to the police, the brothers' mother and wife claimed to be unaware of their whereabouts and did not have their phone numbers. Subsequently, non-bailable warrants, a Look Out Circular, and a Blue Corner Notice were issued.

Goa Police also asserted that the Luthras were responsible for running the nightclub with only one narrow exit and had organized the fire show that preceded the blaze.

Tanveer Ahmed, the Luthra brothers' lawyer, argued that the siblings were being unfairly portrayed as fugitives, claiming they had informed their travel agent of their plans on December 6. He also alleged that properties belonging to the family were being vandalized and claimed personal vendettas by government agencies.

The denial of the pre-arrest bail indicates the court's seriousness regarding the case. Meanwhile, Goa Police have arrested five managers and staff members in connection with the deadly fire. The Luthra brothers were detained in Thailand.