A Rohini court in Delhi on Thursday rejected the anticipatory bail pleas of Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa, where a massive inferno killed 25 people last week. After the fire, the brothers fled to Thailand, where they were detained.
According to a PTI report on Wednesday, the accused demanded a four-week anticipatory bail in transit to avoid immediate arrest on their return from Thailand to Delhi.
Goa CM Pramod Sawant said the Central Bureau of Investigation and Goa Police are working to bring the Luthor brothers to India as soon as possible.
Who are Saurav and Gaurav Luthra?
Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra are the owners of the Goa club where the fire broke out.
Forbes India featured Saurabh Luthra is the chairman of Romeo Lane, a chain of restaurants spread across Delhi, Goa, Gurgaon, among others, according to his Instagram profile.
According to Romeo Lane’s website, Luthra is a “gold medal winning engineer” turned “up-and-coming and fastest growing restaurateur” known for his “great work in the F&B industry”.
Goa nightclub fire: What happened so far
– A deadly fire broke out at a nightclub in North Goa shortly after midnight on Sunday, December 7, killing 25 and injuring six. An investigation revealed security breaches, leading to an FIR against the owners and management, while officials are under scrutiny for allowing the club to operate.
— Police said the fire was caused by a cylinder explosion. A tourist who survived the tragedy claimed that fireworks were set off when the dancers were performing and that was the likely cause, PTI reported.
– On Tuesday, December 9, an Interpol Blue Corner notice was issued against two brothers who fled to Thailand hours after the tragedy at their nightclub.
— Before the Blue Corner announcement – Ajay Gupta, one of the co-owners of Goa’s ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub, was taken into custody and produced before the Saket court. When Ajay Gupta was brought to Delhi’s extortion and kidnapping cell of the crime branch, with a mask covering his face, he said he was “just a sidekick” at the nightclub.
– To date, the Goa police have arrested five employees of the nightclub in connection with the inferno – Chief General Manager Rajiv Modak, General Manager Vivk Singh, Bar Manager Rajiv Singhania, Gate Manager Riyanshu Thakur and employee Bharat Kohli.
