PANAJI: The Mapusa Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) has remanded Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, to judicial custody till January 9 in connection with the December 6 fire that claimed 25 lives.
Advocate Parag Rao, appearing for the Luthra brothers, said the move indicates the completion of custodial interrogation. “The police custody was till today. They sought judicial custody, which has now been granted by the Judicial Magistrate First Class till January 9,” he told mediapersons.
Rao said no bail application has been filed so far. He added that the court has permitted the defence to submit medical prescriptions to the police, which will be forwarded to jail authorities, as the accused were receiving medication during police custody. Rao also said his clients have been cooperating with the investigation.
On a related matter involving alleged document forgery, Rao said the case is scheduled for hearing tomorrow at 2.30 pm.
Meanwhile, in a related development, the court extended the police custody of Ajay Gupta, co-owner of the club, by five days in connection with the fire. Gupta assured the court that he would cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
