A court in North Goa on Monday remanded Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, co-owners of the nightclub Birch by Romeo Lane, to judicial custody until January 9 in connection with the deadly fire that claimed 25 lives on the night of December 6.

The Luthra brothers were produced before Judicial Magistrate First Class Suman Gad on Monday afternoon after the completion of their police custody. The police sought judicial remand, which was granted by the court.

Advocate Parag Rao, appearing on behalf of the brothers, said the police requested that the accused be sent to judicial custody following the end of custodial interrogation. The court also accepted a plea from the defence directing jail authorities to ensure that the brothers are provided with medicines already prescribed to them by their doctor. Rao added that the accused have not filed a bail application so far.

The Goa Police had arrested Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra on December 16, shortly after they landed in Delhi after being deported from Thailand. The brothers had reportedly fled the country on the morning of December 7, just hours after a massive fire broke out at the nightclub, which was allegedly operating from an illegally constructed premises. Police said the brothers had booked their flight tickets online within hours of the incident.

So far, eight people have been arrested in connection with the tragic blaze. These include the Luthra brothers, their business partner Ajay Gupta, and five managers who were responsible for the day-to-day operations of the nightclub. Two of the managers were released on bail last week.

The First Information Report (FIR), registered on December 7, charges the accused under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), Section 125(a) and (b)(endangering life and personal safety), and Section 287 (negligent conduct with fire or combustible matter).

On Monday, the police also moved an application before the court seeking to declare Surinder Kumar Khosla, the property owner, a proclaimed offender. This step would enable the state police to approach Interpol to issue a Blue Noticeagainst him. Police said Khosla, a 76-year-old British citizen, has failed to respond to multiple notices asking him to join the investigation.

Meanwhile, advocate Vishnu Joshi, representing some of the families of the victims, said they would strongly oppose any anticipatory bail pleas filed by the Luthra brothers in connection with a second FIR lodged against them.

“It is clear that the brothers, who claim to be law-abiding citizens, are anything but that,” Joshi said. “The nightclub was being run without a valid trade licence. There are also fresh allegations of forgery against the duo for allegedly forging a health No Objection Certificate to obtain an excise licence,” he added, referring to the second FIR that accuses the Luthra brothers and Ajay Gupta of cheating and forgery.

Investigations into the fire tragedy and the alleged regulatory violations are continuing.