Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of Birch Bay Romeo Lane nightclub where 25 people were killed in a fire on December 6, have been released on bail in a second case of alleged cheating and forgery and are likely to be out of jail by Wednesday evening. The two were released on bail in the main case (culpable homicide) on April 1.
Parag Rao, the brothers’ lawyer, said the Mapusa First Class Judicial Magistrate granted bail in the second case on the condition that normal conditions on posting a bond of Rs. $1 lakh and guarantee $50,000 each.
On December 16, Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra were arrested at Delhi airport after being deported from Thailand, where they fled after the fire. The two were returned to India after an Interpol notice was issued against them and their passports were suspended.
On December 7, the two were booked under Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 125 (a) and (b) (endangering life and personal safety), and 287 (negligent conduct with fire or flammable materials). A second fraud and forgery case was filed against the Luthras for allegedly fabricating documents as part of the club’s application process.
