MAPUSA
The Mapusa Additional Sessions Court on Tuesday rejected a plea by families of victims to intervene in the anticipatory bail applications of Birch nightclub owners Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra in the excise licence forgery case.
The accused, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, who are owners of Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, are accused of submitting a fake no-objection certificate of the Candolim Primary Health Centre to the Mapusa office of the Excise Department to obtain an excise license for the club. This forgery came to light during investigations into the fire tragedy, which claimed 25 lives.
Accordingly, the Mapusa police had registered a case against the Luthra brothers. To avoid arrest in this case, the Luthra brothers had moved the court for anticipatory bail and it was adjourned to January 20.
In a related development, the court also rejected the bail application of the club’s general manager, Rajiv Kumar Modak, who is presently in judicial custody.
Speaking to media persons after the court rejected the intervention petition, Adv Vishnu Joshi, lawyer for the victims, said that the court order had come as a surprise.
“The accused are preventing the victims' families from speaking in court. We have not yet received the detailed order and have no idea on what basis our application was rejected. After examining all legal aspects, we will challenge this order in the High Court,” said Adv Joshi.
