Bail but no release: Luthra brothers stay in custody over forgery case
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "Bail but no release: Luthra brothers stay in custody over forgery case")
Luthra brothers (File image for representation) Photograph: (X)
A Goa court granted the Luthra brothers bail for the 2025 nightclub fire; however, they remain in custody due to separate charges involving forged safety documents and regulatory fraud.
A local Goa court on Wednesday granted conditional bail to businessmen Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra in connection with the devastating fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub that killed 25 people in December 2025.
The relief, however, is only partial. Despite securing bail in the main fire case, the brothers will continue to remain in judicial custody due to their involvement in a separate forgery case linked to the same incident.
The bail granted by the Goa court pertains to charges of negligence and culpable homicide in the fire tragedy. Legal experts say such relief is often considered once the investigation has substantially progressed and a chargesheet has been filed, reducing the need for prolonged custodial interrogation. The court is also believed to have imposed conditions, including cooperation with the ongoing probe and restrictions on travel.
The fire, which broke out at the upscale nightclub in North Goa, had sent shockwaves across the country, raising serious concerns over safety compliance and enforcement in high-footfall establishments.
Investigations that followed pointed to multiple alleged violations, including inadequate fire safety measures and overcrowding at the venue. What has further complicated the case for the Luthra brothers is a parallel probe into alleged document forgery.
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Authorities claim that fake or manipulated No Objection Certificates (NOCs) may have been used to obtain licences and permissions required to operate the club. In this case, the court had earlier denied anticipatory bail to the accused, allowing investigators to continue their probe into the alleged irregularities. As a result, even after being granted bail in the primary fire case, the brothers are not expected to be released anytime soon.
The twin developments underline the layered nature of the investigation, where criminal negligence and alleged regulatory fraud are being examined simultaneously.
For the victims’ families, the legal process remains a long and evolving battle, with multiple cases and charges still to be tested in court.
