Owners Luthra brothers get bail in Goa nightclub fire case, to remain in jail
Panaji (PTI): A sessions court at Mapusa in Goa on Wednesday granted bail to Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, in a case related to the devastating fire of last December that killed 25 people.
The Luthras, however, would remain in jail as they were arrested in a case of forgery on Monday.
Hours after a fire broke out at the club situated in Arpora village on December 6, 2025, the brothers fled to Thailand, from where they were deported to India on December 17 and arrested by Anjuna Police.
It was alleged that the nightclub lacked requisite permissions and violated several safety-related rules.
Advocate Parag Rao, their lawyer, said additional sessions judge Dvijple Patkar granted conditional bail to both the brothers in the fire case.
The brothers were taken into custody by Mapusa Police on Monday in an alleged forgery case. Despite getting bail in the fire case, they would continue to remain in prison in the second case.
The duo are accused of forging documents to obtain an NOC from the Health Department which was used to get an Excise License for the club.
The sessions court last week rejected their pre-arrest bail applications in this case. The court on Monday remanded them in the custody of Mapusa Police for four days.
Police have filed a charge sheet for alleged culpable homicide against 13 people including the three owners -- Saurabh Luthra, Gaurav Luthra and Ajay Gupta -- in the Arpora nightclub fire case. Gupta was granted bail by a Mapusa court last month.
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Diageo India collaborates with IRTE, Bengaluru Traffic Police to improve road safety
Bengaluru (PTI): Diageo India, in collaboration with the Institute of Road Traffic Education and the Bengaluru Traffic Police, has undertaken a road safety and traffic engineering study aimed at improving safety and traffic efficiency at key intersections in the city, the company said on Wednesday.
The initiative, taken up as part of the Diageo India (United Spirits Limited)’s Corporate Social Responsibility commitments, focuses on enhancing road safety and urban mobility in Bengaluru through research, on-ground assessment and capacity building.
According to a statement, the study assessed three key intersections—Chalukya Circle, Cantonment Railway Station Junction and H Siddaiah Circle—using a scientific, data-driven methodology that included traffic volume analysis, behavioural observations and road safety audits.
These locations were selected to represent different urban contexts, including administrative, transport hub and recreational zones, it said.
The analysis examined traffic movement patterns, pedestrian usage and crossing behaviour, and the role of road design and infrastructure in influencing traffic flow. It also identified opportunities to improve traffic efficiency through better planning and design.
The study recommended several low-cost engineering interventions such as improved lane channelisation, pedestrian refuge islands, optimised signal placement and enhanced signage to help improve traffic flow and road safety, the company said.
Bengaluru, one of India’s fastest-growing metropolitan cities, has over 14 million residents and more than 1.2 crore registered vehicles, placing significant pressure on road infrastructure and contributing to high congestion levels, the statement said.
As part of the initiative, a two-day training programme for Bengaluru Traffic Police officers was conducted on March 30 and 31 by Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE).
Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Bengaluru City, Karthik Reddy said Managing traffic in a city like Bengaluru requires a strong understanding of enforcement, road engineering, and on-ground realities.
Initiatives like this play an important role in strengthening the capacity of our officers and bringing valuable technical insights into day-to-day traffic management, he said.
"Greater coordination between planning, engineering, and enforcement agencies, along with a focus on both vehicular movement and pedestrian safety, will be key to improving traffic efficiency and making our roads safer for all."
Devashish Dasgupta, Corporate Relations Director, Diageo India (USL) said: " Through this collaboration with IRTE and Bengaluru Traffic Police, we are taking a science-based, data-driven approach to improving traffic flow and road safety. Starting with a pilot study across three key junctions and capacity building sessions, we aim to scale this initiative in a phased manner."
Headquartered in Bengaluru, Diageo India is among India's leading beverage alcohol companies, it claimed.
