Bombay HC orders nightclub owners to deposit ₹20 lakh interim compensation for fire victims

Bombay High Court ordered the owners of Goa’s Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub to deposit an interim compensation of ₹20 lakh each for the families of the 25 victims of the December 2025 fire. The bench, comprising Justices Valmiki Menezes and Amit Jamsandekar, was hearing a petition for relief after the blaze that killed 25 people, including 20 kitchen staff and five guests, and injured over 50 others. The fire erupted on the night of December 6, 2025, during a crowded party that featured indoor pyrotechnics. After the incident the Luthra brothers fled to Thailand and were deported on December 17, now lodged in Colvale Central Jail in North Goa. Families of the deceased had asked for ₹50 lakh each in compensation; the court suggested a provisional deposit of ₹20 lakh each without prejudice to the main matter and set a deadline of October 21 for the arrangement, directing the appointed amicus curiae to compile a detailed list of pending cases. The court also clarified that the deposit would be subject to final contentions in the main matter.

Context

Interim compensation is a common legal tool in India to provide quick financial relief to victims while the full case is still being decided. It does not determine the final award but ensures families receive some support pending the court’s final judgment.