Mapusa: JMFC, Mapusa, on Monday reserved its order till April 8 on the bail application filed by nightclub owners Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra in connection with alleged document forgery to obtain an excise licence for Birch by Romeo Lane at Arpora.
Advocate Parag Rao, appearing for both the accused, told reporters outside the court that arguments in the matter had concluded and that the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Jude Sequeira, would pronounce the order on April 8.
The case pertains to allegations that the Luthra brothers used forged documents, including a fake no-objection certificate (NOC), to obtain permissions and an excise licence for operating the nightclub in Arpora village of North Goa. According to police, the alleged forged NOC was purportedly issued from the Candolim Primary Health Centre and was later used for regulatory clearances.
The forgery case was registered separately by Mapusa Police after a complaint from the health officer of the Candolim PHC, who alleged that his signature had been forged and that a fabricated entry had been made in the official register to secure the health NOC. Investigators suspect impersonation and fabrication of official records as part of the licensing process.
The Luthra brothers, who own the fire-ravaged Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, are already facing serious charges in the December 6, 2025 blaze that killed 25 people and injured several others. The tragedy triggered a massive probe into fire safety violations, licensing procedures, and alleged negligence in the operation of the club.
After the fire incident, the brothers allegedly fled to Thailand and were later deported to India, following which they were arrested by Goa Police. While they were recently granted bail in the main fire case by a Sessions Court in Mapusa, they continue to remain in custody due to the separate forgery FIR.
Last week, the court rejected their anticipatory bail plea in the forgery case, following which Mapusa Police secured their custody from Colvale Central Jail for custodial interrogation.
Police said that the questioning is aimed at uncovering the full extent of the alleged forgery and identifying whether other persons or officials were involved in the process.
