The three main accused in the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub fire surrendered before the Mapusa Additional District and Sessions Court on Monday, two weeks after the Supreme Court dismissed their pleas challenging the cancellation of their bail. Nightclub owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, along with their business partner Ajay Gupta, turned themselves in before the court after the apex court directed them to surrender. Their appearance marks a significant development in the legal proceedings arising from the fatal nightclub fire, which claimed 25 lives and left several others injured. The accused had approached the Supreme Court after the Bombay High Court cancelled their bail, but the apex court ultimately declined to interfere with that decision. Their surrender now places them back under the jurisdiction of the trial court as proceedings in the case continue. The court’s handling of their surrender followed the directions issued by the Supreme Court, which had also called for the trial proceedings to be expedited.

The fatal incident occurred at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, North Goa, on December 6, 2025. The fire resulted in the deaths of 25 people and left several others injured, making the incident a major tragedy in the state. The scale of the casualties led to legal proceedings against those associated with the establishment, with questions surrounding responsibility for the incident becoming central to the case. The deaths also triggered a wider focus on the circumstances surrounding the nightclub fire and the accountability of those facing allegations in connection with it. As the judicial process continues, the surrender of the three main accused represents the latest step following months of legal proceedings over their custody and bail status. The case remains before the court, where further proceedings will determine how the allegations against the accused are dealt with under law.

Advocate Saumya Drago, who represents the accused, confirmed that the three men surrendered before the Mapusa court and that their surrender was accepted. The court subsequently issued the necessary remand orders. The development followed the Supreme Court’s direction that the accused return before the trial court after their challenge to the cancellation of bail was rejected. Their surrender was therefore carried out in accordance with the judicial order rather than as a voluntary withdrawal from the legal proceedings. The three accused had previously secured bail, but that relief was subsequently cancelled by the Bombay High Court. Their legal challenge to that decision reached the Supreme Court, which considered their petitions before issuing its August 31 order. With the surrender now completed, the trial court will continue to deal with the case in accordance with the directions of the higher courts.

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On August 31, the Supreme Court dismissed the petitions filed by Saurabh Luthra, Gaurav Luthra and Ajay Gupta challenging the Bombay High Court’s order cancelling their bail. The apex court directed the three accused to surrender within two weeks. It also instructed the trial court to expedite the proceedings in the case. The two-week period provided by the Supreme Court ended with the accused appearing before the Mapusa Additional District and Sessions Court on Monday. Their surrender means the proceedings can now continue in line with the Supreme Court’s directions. The apex court’s decision also settled the immediate question of whether the accused could continue to remain out on the basis of the earlier bail order, with the court directing them to return to the trial court’s custody and jurisdiction.

Following the surrender, the defence also sought certain medical accommodations for the three accused. Advocate Saumya Drago told reporters that an application had been filed before the court requesting the accommodations based on her clients’ medical history, doctors’ prescriptions and medical records. The request will now be considered by the court as part of the proceedings following their surrender. The defence’s application is separate from the Supreme Court’s decision on the cancellation of bail and concerns the medical requirements of the accused during the ongoing legal process. Details of the specific accommodations sought were not provided in the information available, but the defence has relied on medical documentation in support of its request.

The surrender of Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra and Ajay Gupta comes nearly nine months after the December 2025 nightclub fire and follows the Supreme Court’s intervention in the bail proceedings. With the three main accused now before the trial court, the case moves into its next stage under the direction to expedite proceedings. The tragedy at Birch by Romeo Lane claimed 25 lives and injured several others, leaving the legal proceedings closely tied to efforts to establish responsibility for the incident. The latest development does not determine the guilt or innocence of the accused, which will be decided through the judicial process. For now, the surrender ensures compliance with the Supreme Court’s August 31 order and allows the trial court to proceed with the case while also considering the defence application concerning the medical needs of the accused.

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