Goa nightclub fire case: Birch owners Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra taken to Goa after deportation from Thailand
PTC Web Desk: Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, the brothers who own the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa where a devastating fire claimed 25 lives, were brought to Goa on Tuesday after being deported from Thailand. Their return brings to a close a 10-day manhunt that began after the duo left the country in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy.
The two were formally taken into custody by the Goa Police upon their arrival at the Delhi airport. A Delhi court subsequently granted a two-day transit remand, allowing the police to escort them to Goa. The brothers are expected to be produced before a judicial magistrate in Mapusa later today.
Investigators have booked the Luthras on charges related to culpable homicide and negligence in connection with the December 6 fire at the popular nightclub in North Goa’s Arpora area. While seeking transit remand, the police told the court that the brothers were the principal owners of the establishment and exercised final authority over its operations, including safety protocols, permissions and events hosted at the venue.
The deadly blaze, which broke out late on December 6, resulted in the deaths of four tourists and 21 staff members. The police say even as firefighting operations were underway, the Luthra brothers left India and travelled to Phuket. Their movement triggered international tracking after an Interpol Blue Corner Notice was issued, leading to their detention by Thai authorities last week.
According to the FIR, the nightclub was allegedly functioning without complying with essential fire safety requirements. The police have also stated that a fire performance was held on the night of the incident despite the absence of adequate safety equipment.
Legal pressure on the brothers intensified earlier when a Delhi court rejected their plea for anticipatory bail on December 11. The court described the accusations as serious and criticised their conduct, noting that they had booked international flight tickets barely an hour after the fire, which the judge interpreted as an attempt to avoid the law.
The Luthras, for their part, have maintained that they did not flee and had travelled to Thailand for business purposes, claiming they were planning to open a restaurant in Phuket. They also cited alleged threats on social media, saying they feared for their safety if they returned to Goa.
- With inputs from agencies
