The deportation process for the Luthra brothers, Saurabh and Gaurav, is nearing its final stage, with top government sources indicating they are likely to be brought back to India from Thailand within the next 24 to 48 hours.
The brothers, owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, North Goa, fled to Thailand just hours after a massive fire on December 6 claimed 25 lives, including staff members and tourists.
Sources state that the swift action by Indian diplomatic and law enforcement agencies, including the cancellation of the brothers’ passports, was instrumental in their detention:
“The deportation of the Luthra brothers from Thailand is almost complete. All legal and procedural hurdles have been cleared.”
Thai authorities, extending complete cooperation, detained the duo in Phuket after India’s Ministry of External Affairs suspended their passports under Section 10A of the Passports Act, rendering them illegal foreign nationals in Thailand. The brothers were subsequently shifted to the Immigration Division Centre in Bangkok to finalize the deportation logistics.
Flight Booked Minutes After Inferno
The police investigation in Goa revealed the chilling timeline of the brothers’ escape: they booked flight tickets to Phuket at 1:17 AM on December 7, barely an hour after the fire started and while emergency teams were still struggling to rescue those trapped inside the building.
- Interpol Notice: An Interpol Blue Corner Notice was swiftly issued to locate and monitor the fugitives.
- Deportation Mechanism: Since their passports are revoked, the Embassy of India in Bangkok is now working on issuing an Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC). This document is required for Thailand to legally place them on an outbound flight, which, under Section 54 of the Thai Immigration Act, mandates their return to India, the port of embarkation.
- Legal Setback: Their attempt to obtain transit anticipatory bail from a Delhi court was rejected, with the judge citing the allegations against them as prima facie “grave and serious.”
A multi-agency Indian team is actively monitoring every stage to ensure a smooth transfer. Upon arrival in India, the Luthra brothers will be immediately arrested under the existing Look Out Circular (LOC) conditions and handed over to the Goa Police to face charges, which include culpable homicide not amounting to murder.