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New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday refused to grant immediate interim protection to Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, who are facing allegations in connection with the devastating fire at Goa’s Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, which claimed at least 25 lives over the weekend. Instead of offering them transit anticipatory bail on priority, the Rohini court directed the Goa government to file a formal response before the matter is heard in full.
The case has now been scheduled for December 11. The Luthra brothers, named as accused in the investigation, told the court through their petition that they “want to return to India” and had been in Thailand for work. They urged the court to grant them four weeks of transit anticipatory bail so they could come back safely and approach the appropriate court in Goa for regular relief.
Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra, assisted by Advocate Tanvir Ahmed Mir, appeared for the applicants, according to Live Law. Representing the Goa government, Senior Advocate Abhinav Mukerji, supported by Standing Counsel Surjendu Sankar Das, opposed the relief sought.
Mukerji informed the court that the bail applications had been served only on Wednesday morning and requested that the matter be taken up on Friday to allow the State to file its status report. He questioned the maintainability of the pleas and referred to the applicants as “fugitives”.
Countering the argument, Sidharth Luthra submitted that the brothers were seeking only narrow, time-bound relief. He said they intended to submit themselves to due legal process once they were back in the country.
While acknowledging the gravity of the incident, he voiced concern over what he described as a “witch hunt” against the accused.
The senior counsel also highlighted the health issues of 40-year-old Saurabh Luthra, stating that he suffers from hypertension and epilepsy. He further clarified that the brothers were licensees of the nightclub rather than its owners.
Referring to the issuance of look out circulars, he added, “I just want to come back and take my legal remedies. My learned friend (State counsel) surely cannot oppose my legal remedies.”
