PANAJI
Ten days after fleeing India in the aftermath of a deadly nightclub fire in Goa, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra were taken into custody on Tuesday at Indira Gandhi International Airport, ending a brief but closely watched international pursuit.
The brothers, owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, were deported from Bangkok and brought to New Delhi on a commercial IndiGo flight under Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) escort. The flight landed shortly before 2 pm, and the Goa Police formally arrested the men at the immigration counter, with Delhi Police also present.
The December 6 fire at the nightclub killed 25 people and triggered widespread criticism of safety lapses and alleged regulatory failures. The Goa police have charged the brothers along with seven other accused, with culpable homicide and negligence among other serious sections of the BNS.
Meanwhile, after their arrest, the accused were taken for the mandatory medical examination at Indira Gandhi super speciality hospital Dwarka. Officials said they were later produced before the Patiala House Court for transit remand to be brought to Goa.
Soon after their arrival on Wednesday morning, they will be taken to the Anjuna Police Station for questioning and then produced before a Mapusa court, where police will seek custody. Sources said the accused will also be taken to the scene of crime.
In a statement issued on Tuesday evening, Goa Police confirmed the accused had been taken into custody following their deportation by Thai authorities and that all legal formalities were being completed.
“The Goa Police has taken custody of absconding accused Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra upon their arrival in Delhi following deportation by Thai authorities in connection with the Birch by Romeo Lane fire incident,” the statement read.
"On obtaining transit remand, Goa Police is bringing both the accused to Goa. The police team along with the accused is expected to reach Goa by tomorrow (Wednesday) morning," it said.
The team to Delhi comprised a lady IPS officer, two PIs, two PSIs and two constables.
The brothers, Delhi-based entrepreneurs, fled India for Phuket within hours of the blaze. Police records show that they booked their tickets on MakeMyTrip at 1.17 am on December 7 and departed on a flight around 5.30 am the same day.
They were detained in Thailand exactly a week ago after an Interpol Blue Corner notice was issued, passports impounded by the Ministry of External Affairs and their visas were cancelled under Thailand’s Immigration Act. Thai authorities initially held them in PaTong, Phuket before transferring them to a detention centre in Bangkok.
Officials said that although Thai officials were swift after detaining the brothers, the deportation process was slowed by weekend closures of government offices. It resumed on Monday.
The High Court of Bombay at Goa is scheduled to hear two public interest litigations, including a suo motu case arising from the fire, on January 12. A separate writ petition filed by the property owners is listed for hearing on January 8.
