PANAJI
Mattresses, prescribed medicines and, where available, access to a Western-style toilet were among the facilities allowed to the accused in the Birch by Romeo Lane fire case, as the Mapusa court also made special arrangements to facilitate their surrender and subsequent remand to judicial custody on a public holiday.
The court premises were specially opened on Monday, September 14, with arrangements made for the surrender of Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra and their business associate Ajay Gupta, as directed by the Supreme Court. The day was a public holiday for Hartalika and Ganesh Chaturthi, as well as the expiry of their two-week surrender period.
Additional Sessions Judge-I Dvijple Patkar had specifically directed court officials to ensure the surrender could be completed and the accused thereafter taken into judicial lock-up at Colvale Central Jail.
“In order to comply with the directions of the Supreme Court regarding the surrender of the applicant/accused, necessary arrangements shall be made to enable and facilitate the applicant to surrender before this Court on 14.09.2026, the said date being a Court holiday on account of Hartalika and Ganesh Chaturthi. The applicant shall surrender before this Court on the said date by appearing in person in the Court premises,” read the order.
The Court Superintendent was directed to make arrangements to facilitate the surrender and ensure the presence of requisite staff. The in-charge of the Escort Cell was also asked to depute a minimum of two escorts on the given date and time to facilitate the surrender and consequent remand.
The duo, along with Gupta, also placed their medical concerns before the court and sought permission to receive certain items, including bedding and medicines.
The court noted that the JMFC had, at the time of their earlier remand, permitted the use of a mattress and medicines and directed these facilities to continue during their judicial custody.
“...the Superintendent of Central Jail, Colvale is directed to provide the applicant with a mattress to sleep on while he remains in judicial custody. The Superintendent, Central Jail, Colvale shall also allow the applicant to take, retain and continue his necessary prescribed medicines,” it said, as similar pleas were made by the trio.
One of the brothers was examined by a Goa Medical College doctor, who advised him to avoid squatting. Upon request, the court accordingly permitted the use of a Western-style toilet, if available, besides a mattress to provide relief from his back pain.
The special arrangements followed the Supreme Court’s direction that the three accused surrender within two weeks after their appeals against the cancellation of their bail were dismissed on August 31. The Bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Sheel Nagu granted the accused two weeks to surrender and also urged the trial court to expedite the process of framing charges.
September 14 also saw Tehelka's ex-founder Tarun Tejpal's surrender before the Mapusa court to serve the 10 years rigorous imprisonment awarded by the High Court of Bombay at Goa, in a 2013 sexual assault case.
