How Luthra brothers who fled to Thailand as their Goa nightclub burnt detained in Thailand

The two brothers linked to the Goa nightclub fire that killed 25 people have reportedly been
detained in Thailand, sources told CNN-News 18. Officials say the process to deport Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra back to India has already begun so that they can face trial.

This development comes after the Ministry of External Affairs
suspended their passports at the request of the Goa government.

Earlier, Goa Police revealed that the brothers
booked their flights to Thailand at 1:17 am on December 7, the very moment when firefighters and police were struggling to control the massive blaze at their Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Anjuna.

“While Goa police and fire services were battling the blaze and rescuing those trapped, the accused were preparing to flee the country,” the statement alleged.

Here’s where things stand now.

Luthra brothers’ pre-arrest bail rejected

The Rohini Court on Wednesday refused to grant the Luthra brothers any immediate protection from arrest. Despite asking for four weeks of anticipatory bail on medical grounds and insisting in court that “We’re also victims”, the Bench declined to stay their arrest, reports News18.

The court began hearing their plea but directed Delhi Police to file a detailed response instead, listing the matter for Friday.

This development comes shortly after Interpol issued
Blue Corner Notices against the brothers. These notices help law enforcement across Interpol’s 196 member countries share important information, especially when individuals need to be traced across borders.

Meanwhile, the Goa Police have detained
Ajay Gupta, one of the four owners of the nightclub. A Look Out Circular (LOC) had already been issued for Gupta and another co-owner, Surinder Kumar Khosla, after investigators were unable to find them.

“We have detained Ajay Gupta, one of the owners of the nightclub. This is the sixth person to be held in connection with the case,” a Goa Police spokesperson said.

Before this, five managers and staff members had already been picked up as part of the investigation.

Luthras claim they were on a ‘business trip’

According to an India Today report, the Luthra brothers have insisted they did not escape India. In court, their lawyer argued that the travel had been planned in advance, telling the Rohini Court that Saurabh had flown to Thailand on December 6 for work.

“On December 6, the applicant travelled to Thailand for professional engagements and potential restaurant sites,” the counsel said, adding that the brothers were now seeking legal protection so they could return to India without being arrested the moment they land.

“I am saying I want to come back to India; they want to arrest me. I am seeking relief to come back and approach the Goa court. Witch-hunting is what I am concerned about,” their lawyer told the court.

Meanwhile, the tourism department on Tuesday demolished a section of another Luthra-owned establishment, Romeo Lane in Vagator, which had been sealed by the revenue authorities on Sunday.

The brothers claimed the demolition of their second property showed the
“vindictive nature” of the action against them. The beachside shack, also linked to them, was bulldozed after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant ordered the immediate demolition of all illegal structures built on salt-pan land without fire-safety permissions.

The nightclub is situated in the backwaters of the Arpora river, and has a narrow entry and exit. There was no access for fire brigade vehicles because of the narrow lanes, and their tankers had to be parked about 400 metres away from the spot.

With input from agencies