A Delhi court on Wednesday declined to grant immediate interim relief to Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of Goa’s nightclub Birch by Romeo Lane. The fire at the club over the weekend killed at least 25 people. The Rohini Court instead sought a formal response from the Goa government on the brothers’ applications for transit anticipatory bail.
The matter has now been listed for hearing on December 11. The Luthra brothers, named as accused in the deadly fire, approached the Delhi court seeking protection from arrest to enable them to return to India and move the appropriate court in Goa.
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According to Live Law, senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra, along with Advocate Tanvir Ahmed Mir, appeared for the applicants. Representing the Goa government, Senior Advocate Abhinav Mukerji, assisted by Standing Counsel Surjendu Sankar Das, opposed the plea.
‘Witch hunt against accused’
Mukherji told the court that the bail applications had been served only on Wednesday morning and sought that the matter be taken up on Friday to allow the prosecution time to file a status report. He further argued that the pleas were not maintainable and described the applicants as “fugitives”.
However, Sidharth Luthra contended that the brothers were only seeking limited protection so they could safely return to the country and subsequently approach Goa courts regarding the case.
He acknowledged that the incident was tragic and had resulted in multiple deaths but expressed concern over what he described as a “witch hunt” against the accused.
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Saurabh Luthara’s medical conditions cited
He argued that 40-year-old Saurabh Luthra suffers from medical conditions including hypertension and epilepsy and stressed that the brothers were licensees of the nightclub, not its owners.
According to Live Law, the senior counsel pointed out that look out circulars had been issued against them and said, “I just want to come back and take my legal remedies. My learned friend (State counsel) surely cannot oppose my legal remedies.” |
