Goa Birch Nightclub Fire: Owners Luthra Brothers Deported From Thailand, To Face Indian Law Today

New Delhi: The Luthra brothers, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, accused in the Goa nightclub fire incident that have led to the death of 25 individuals, have boarded their flight to India from Thailand, after their deportation process was completed by the Thai authorities.

The brother, who are the owners of the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub that was engulfed in flames earlier this month, had fled to Phuket in Thailand from Delhi, while firefights were battling the flames as the Arpora club. An Interpol Blue Corner Notice was issued against them. According to reports, the siblings will be landing in the national capital on Monday afternoon after being deported from Thailand. 

What Is Expected After They Land In Delhi?

Officials clarified that the Goa Police are not travelling to Thailand in connection with the case. Reports indicate that a team from the Goa Police, accompanied by Delhi police officials, will take their custody upon their arrival at the airport. The brothers will then be produced before a Delhi court, where the investigating agency will seek transit remand to take them to Goa for further questioning. This remand will allow the Goa Police to escort them to the Anjuna Police Station in Goa for interrogation. 

The production of the Luthra brothers before the Delhi court is necessary since the arrests and the custody transfer of the Luthra brothers are taking place outside Goa’s jurisdiction. The accused will be taken to Goa under police custody after all these legal formalities are over.

Some reports indicate that they might be produced before the Mapusa Magistrate Court on December 17.

Where Were They At Thailand?

They were detained by the Thai police after their Indian passports were suspended by the Centre, which enabled their return to the country. In Thailand, the duo was held in a detention centre in Bangkok. Earlier they were detained in Phuket. The local police had said the detention followed a request from Indian law enforcement. 

This is possible under an extradition treaty between the two countries, which has been in force since 2015. Thai officials stressed that due process was followed as part of the cooperation between the two countries leading to the prompt lawful handover of the brothers.

The Indian law enforcement team was also coordinating formalities for the brothers’ return, Thai police said.

The brothers are expected to arrive at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday afternoon on an IndiGo flight from Thailand. The brothers will then be produced before a Delhi court, where the investigating agency will seek transit remand to take them to Goa for further questioning.

What Cases Are Registered Against The Luthras?

The Goa Police had filed a criminal case dated December 7 at the Police Station Arpora Anjuna, North Goa, under Sections 105, 125, 125(a), 125(b), and 287, read with 3(5) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, after the tragic incident.

The FIR states that on December 6, Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, the accused persons, had organised a fire show at Birch by Romeo Lane, Arpora, without taking proper precautions and without providing fire safety equipment and other safety measures. The fire show resulted in a serious fire, due to which 25 people, including tourists and staff, died and many others were seriously injured, it added.

The FIR further states that the Luthra brothers, despite knowing that the restaurant does not have emergency exit doors on the ground or deck floors for evacuation in an emergency, organised the fire show.

Delhi Court Had Refused Interim Protection From Arrest

Earlier, last week, a Delhi court had refused to grant interim protection from arrest to the Luthra brother. However, their business partner Ajay Gupta was taken into custody in connection with the incident. 

During the hearing, the Luthras’ counsel argued that they had not fled the country, but had gone on the trip to Thailand for a business meeting. They had booked their flight tickets at 1:17 am on the day the fire broke out. It was also argued before the court that the brothers were only licensees and not the actual owners of the nightclub.

The Goa Police had launched a manhunt for all the accused related to the incident and had issued lookout notices for all of them. They were also coordinating with the central law enforcement agencies to trace their movements.

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