Two brothers believed to be linked to a Goa nightclub fire that killed 25 people have been detained in Thailand, people familiar with the matter said, adding that the process had begun to deport them to India for trial.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is examining the Goa government’s request to revoke the passports of Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra, co-owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in North Goa. The brothers left India shortly after the Arpora fire on December 6, for which an Interpol Blue Corner notice had already been issued at the behest of the CBI.
A Goa police investigation revealed that the brothers had booked flights to Thailand even as rescue teams battled the fire.
According to officials, Gaurav and Saurabh booked the tickets on MakeMyTrip at 1:17 am on December 7, at a time when firemen and police were trying to douse the flames and rescue those trapped inside the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora. “Even as Goa Police and Goa Fire Services fought to douse the fire and rescue people trapped inside, the Luthor brothers were preparing to flee the country,” the official said.
Earlier on Wednesday, a New Delhi court refused to grant the brothers interim protection from arrest. Their lawyers argued that the Luthras had not fled the country, but were on a business trip, and argued that they were licensees — not owners — of the nightclub. They further argued that day-to-day operations were managed by club employees, absolving the brothers of direct responsibility.
Meanwhile, the Goa police arrested five managers and employees in connection with the fire that broke out around midnight and quickly engulfed the venue, located about 25 km from Panaji. Authorities in India are now coordinating with their counterparts in Thailand as the deportation process progresses.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said an inquiry report into the tragedy would be ready within eight days as the state began paying compensation to victims’ families and tightened safety audits across entertainment venues.
(This article first appeared on Hindustan Times)
