NEW DELHI, Dec. 11— A Delhi court on Thursday refused to grant transit anticipatory bail to Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of Goa’s Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, where 25 people died in a major fire last week. The brothers, currently abroad, had asked for four weeks of protection so they would not be arrested immediately upon landing in India.
Additional Sessions Judge Vandana dismissed the pleas; the detailed order is expected later.
Opposing the applications, counsel for the state of Goa told the court that the brothers had left Goa right after the incident and were evading the investigation. “Once it is shown that a person is attempting to evade the process of law, the court should not come to his aid at all,” the counsel said. He added that anticipatory bail was discretionary and could not be extended to those who “created obstacles in the execution of warrants or concealed themselves.”
He argued that the seriousness of the case, along with the issuance of non-bailable warrants, barred any protective relief.
The Luthras’ counsel maintained that the brothers were willing to return immediately and join the probe. “If the IO asks me to appear at midnight, I will be there,” he said, contending that transit bail merely allows an accused to safely approach the correct jurisdiction. Citing a Supreme Court precedent involving an accused abroad, he argued: “I only seek protection for a few days to reach the court safely. When a citizen is willing to submit to the law, the court must extend a helping hand.”
