The two absconding owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, have been detained in Thailand and are expected to be extradited to India soon, officials confirmed today. The brothers had fled the country on an IndiGo flight just hours after the fire tragedy in North Goa, which claimed the lives of 25 people.
Following a coordinated effort between Indian agencies and Thai authorities, the Luthra brothers were successfully located outside the main city area of Phuket and taken into custody early this morning. Indian teams have now initiated the final process to secure their return.
Detained After Passport Suspension and Interpol Notice
The breakthrough in the case comes days after the Goa Police took decisive action:
- Passport Suspension: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) suspended the passports of both Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra under the Passports Act, 1967. This move effectively prevents them from any further international travel.
- Blue Corner Notice: The Goa Police also successfully secured an Interpol Blue Corner Notice, a global alert issued to collect information on a person’s location or activities.
Investigators revealed that the Luthra brothers booked their flight tickets to Phuket at 1:17 am on Sunday, minutes after the fire broke out at the nightclub, while emergency services were struggling to contain the blaze. The fire reportedly started during a packed dance performance where electronic fireworks were set off.
Failed Bail Attempt in Delhi
The detention follows a failed legal maneuver by the brothers to avoid arrest. On Wednesday, the Rohini Court in Delhi refused to grant them interim protection after they sought four weeks of anticipatory bail, citing medical grounds. During the hearing, the duo pleaded, “We’re also victims,” but the court did not entertain the plea.
Meanwhile, the Goa Police have arrested Ajay Gupta, one of the four owners of the club. Gupta claimed he was only a “sleeping partner” with no knowledge of the club’s daily operations. With the detention of the Luthra brothers, investigators hope to secure key information regarding the regulatory lapses and safety violations that led to the high casualty count.
Officials expect the immigration process to be completed either by late evening today or by tomorrow, after which the duo will be flown back to India.