Main Accused in Fatal Goa Nightclub Fire Surrender Following Supreme Court Order

The three primary accused in the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub fire surrendered before the Mapusa Additional District and Sessions Court in Goa on Monday. Nightclub owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, along with business partner Ajay Gupta, turned themselves in two weeks after the Supreme Court rejected their petitions challenging the cancellation of their bail.

The fire occurred on December 6, 2025, in Arpora, North Goa, resulting in 25 deaths and several injuries. The Bombay High Court had previously cancelled the trio's bail on August 18, citing the seriousness of the case. On August 31, the Supreme Court dismissed their appeals and ordered them to surrender within two weeks, while also instructing the trial court to expedite the proceedings.

According to the chargesheet, the accused are booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for charges including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, forgery, and negligent conduct with respect to fire and combustible matter. The chargesheet alleges that the irresponsible acts of the accused led to the mass casualty incident and caused irreparable loss to the families of the victims.

Advocate Saumya Drago, representing the accused, confirmed that the court accepted the surrender and issued remand orders. The court granted requests for medicines and a mattress based on medical records, but a request for special footwear remains pending awaiting a response from the investigating officer.