 "Fire officials investigate at the scene where the fire broke out in north Goa's Arpora. PTI")
The owners of the ill-fated nightclub Birch by Romeo Lane, the Luthra brothers—Saurabh and Gaurav—have raised serious allegations of a “witch-hunt” against them as the investigation into a devastating fire pushes on.
What they told the court
Their plea argued they weren’t the day-to-day operators of the club: “The applicant and his partners operate from Delhi and do not run the day-to-day operations. The day-to-day operations are managed by the on-ground/restaurant managers,” said their lawyer in court.
Saurabh’s health was cited as a reason for caution: “This witch-hunting issue is something I’m concerned about. There is a medical history with Saurabh. He [has] epilepsy, hypertension etc.”
Their lawyers also described the actions against them—including the demolition of the club’s second outlet—as vindictive.
The Rohini Court in Delhi turned down their request for immediate interim relief. It asked the Goa Police (and state government) to respond to their plea for transit anticipatory bail when they return to India.
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View AllMeanwhile, the Anti‑Corruption Bureau (ACB) and multiple agencies continue probing the fire that killed 25 people—5 tourists and 20 staff members—with the club’s lack of fire-safety certification , narrow exits and flammable decor flagged as major lapses.
What the Luthras claim—and what’s next
The brothers claim they went to Thailand for business—not to flee—but court filings and police say the timing (hours after the fire) and their long-term absence point to evasion.
They insist they’re victims of a targeted crackdown, but critics and victims’ families question whether this was a tragedy rooted in systemic negligence—not just a case of bad luck.
As the legal battle unfolds, and with public outrage mounting, all eyes are on the court’s upcoming decision on their bail plea and the deeper findings of the ongoing investigation.