In a heart-wrenching plea outside the court, Bhavana Joshi, a Delhi resident who lost four family members in the tragic fire at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora, demanded that the owners of the establishment be denied bail and face strict punishment. The devastating incident occurred on December 6, claiming multiple lives and leaving families shattered.
Emotional Plea for Justice Outside the Court
Breaking down in tears on Tuesday, Bhavana Joshi recounted the unimaginable tragedy that struck her family during what was supposed to be a joyful holiday in Goa. She expressed her firm demand that Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of the nightclub, should not be granted bail and must be sent to jail for their alleged negligence. "I want Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra to go to jail rather than be granted bail. If they come out, then they will do anything," Joshi stated, voicing her deep distrust.
Joshi revealed that she reached the nightclub just 15 minutes before the fire broke out. The family had saved money for a holiday in Goa, never anticipating such a disaster. "We did not do anything wrong, but still we had to face this," she said, highlighting the cruel twist of fate.
Alleged Negligence and Financial Ruin
Joshi placed the blame squarely on the nightclub's management, alleging a catastrophic failure in following safety protocols. She claimed that staff attempted to douse the initial, minor fire with just a glass of water and a water bottle, allowing it to escalate into a major blaze. This alleged negligence, she argues, turned a manageable situation into a deadly inferno.
The financial and emotional aftermath is crippling for the family. Joshi lost her husband, Vinod Kumar, the sole earning member. "When the family had only one earning member and he died in such a way, imagine what kind of trauma the family must be going through. This incident left us on the road, and we are facing financial crises," she explained. The tragedy has orphaned children and left the survivors grappling with an uncertain future.
Flight to Thailand and a Call for Accountability
Adding to the family's anguish are the actions of the Luthra brothers after the incident. Joshi alleged that while others struggled to secure flight tickets in the aftermath, the owners managed to leave for Thailand. "The Luthra brothers committed a mistake and, without admitting their mistake, they left the country showing no sympathy to the family members of the deceased," she accused.
Another family member, Balkishan Joshi, echoed the call for justice, urging the court to deliver a verdict that acknowledges their profound loss. "Today there is no one to take care of their children. I urged the court to give us justice," Balkishan said.
While expressing some faith in the government's efforts, Bhavana Joshi remains cautious about the strength of the case. The identification of the victims was reportedly extremely difficult due to the severity of their condition, a grim detail that underscores the horror of the Goa nightclub fire. The family's fight for justice continues as they seek to ensure such a tragedy never recurs due to alleged managerial negligence.
