The three main accused in the Goa nightclub fire surrendered in a Mapusa court two weeks after the SC order

Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra, right, who fled India after a fire at his Goa nightclub claimed 25 lives. File | Photo credit: The Hindu

The three main accused in the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub fire surrendered before a court in Goa on Monday (September 14, 2026), two weeks after the Supreme Court rejected their bail pleas.

Nightclub owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, along with their business partner Ajay Gupta, reported to the Mapusa Additional District and Sessions Court after the high court ordered them to surrender.

A deadly fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, North Goa on 6 December 2025 left 25 dead and several others injured.

Advocate Saumya Drago, representing the accused, confirmed that the court accepted their surrender and issued the necessary orders to take them into custody.

On August 31, the Supreme Court dismissed their petitions challenging the Bombay High Court’s order canceling their bail and directed them to surrender within two weeks. The Supreme Court also ordered the court of first instance to speed up the proceedings.

Speaking to reporters, Ms. Drago said the court also filed a request for certain medical accommodations for her clients based on their medical histories, prescriptions and medical records.

“While the court allowed their request regarding the medication and the mattress, it kept the special footwear request pending and asked the investigating officer to respond. The court is expected to hear the matter on the next working day,” she said.

The Bombay High Court canceled the bail granted to the three accused on August 18, keeping in view the gravity of the case and the need for further judicial proceedings. The trio subsequently approached the Supreme Court, which refused to interfere with the Supreme Court’s order.

According to the charge sheet filed in the case, charges were registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions of killing not amounting to murder, acts endangering human life, negligent act with respect to fire and combustibles, forgery, use of forged documents as genuine and criminal conspiracy.

The prosecution alleged that the “irresponsible acts” of the accused led to the death of 25 people in the mass casualty incident, causing “irreparable loss” to their families.

Published – 14 Sep 2026 15:12 IST