The JMFC, Mapusa remanded Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, to five days of police custody in connection with the devastating fire that claimed 25 lives on December 7.
However, it is disturbing that custody has been limited to just five days. Will the police uncover the full truth, including the brothers’ alleged illegal operations in Goa, within such a short period? Given the gravity of the crime, a more rigorous investigation period is warranted.
The government appears to be projecting the brothers’ extradition from Thailand as a major achievement, but this raises a crucial question: what about the accountability of officials from departments such as FDA, Excise, the Goa State Pollution Control Board, Fire & Emergency Services, and Panchayats? These authorities, along with political middlemen, allegedly enabled these illegalities for years.
There is a growing fear that the Luthra brothers will eventually walk free, while officials responsible for regulatory failures are quietly protected, undermining justice for the victims.
