Phuket, Thailand – Indian authorities are seeking the return of Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, co-owners of the Goa-based Birch nightclub, following their detention in Phuket, Thailand. The brothers are wanted in connection with a fire at their nightclub on December 6th that resulted in the deaths of 25 people.
Thai authorities, in coordination with Indian agencies, apprehended the Luthra brothers in Phuket. The process to deport them to India to face trial has begun. According to sources, the brothers were taken into custody from a hotel and moved to a detention facility. Deportation procedures are underway, and the Luthra brothers may be flown back to India soon. A team has been dispatched to Phuket to coordinate the deportation.
The Luthra brothers fled India shortly after the deadly blaze at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora. The fire, reportedly caused by fireworks set off inside the venue, also left many injured. The incident has brought intense scrutiny to fire safety standards and regulations in Goa.
The Ministry of External Affairs has impounded the brothers' passports and is expected to cancel them, preventing further international travel. An Interpol Blue Corner Notice had been issued against them at the request of the CBI.
Goa Police have strengthened their case to ensure the deportation of the nightclub owners. The case has been lodged under sections 105, 125, 125(a), 125(b), 287 read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Goa Police maintain that the brothers' negligence directly contributed to the tragic loss of lives and are pushing for their swift return to face legal action.
The Luthra brothers had approached a Rohini court in Delhi, seeking pre-arrest bail, claiming they didn't run day-to-day operations at the Arpora club and were victims of authorities' vindictive behavior and that their trip to Thailand was a planned business meeting and not an escape.
Following the detention of the Luthra brothers, visuals have emerged showing one of the brothers in handcuffs at the detention center in Phuket.
Amidst these developments, AAP MP Sanjay Singh has called for an investigation into the Luthra's escape from India, alleging possible involvement of BJP officials. He criticized authorities for failing to prevent their departure after the fire.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated that efforts to bring the Luthra brothers back to Goa are underway and may take two to three days. He added that while two women government officers under investigation are cooperating, Arpora-Nagova Panchayat Secretary Raghuveer Bagkar is "not cooperating" and will be arrested.
