Luthra Brothers Caught in Thailand After Deadly Goa Nightclub Fire: How Passport Law Trapped Them

The two brothers are accused in the Goa nightclub fire case

Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, who operated the Goa nightclub where 25 people perished in a fire, successfully fled to Thailand shortly after the incident began. While firefighters were still combating the flames and no case had yet been registered against the restaurant owners, the brothers managed to escape. Facing criticism from Opposition parties and questions about how justice would be served, the Centre utilized passport regulations to ensnare the Luthras. The government invoked Section 10A of the Passport Act to suspend their passports, which grants authorities the power to prevent individuals from traveling. Simultaneously, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) issued a Blue Corner notice against the brothers, further tightening the net around them.

According to sources within the government, once their passports were suspended, the Luthras' presence in Thailand became unlawful, enabling Indian authorities to coordinate with Thai officials for their detention. Indian representatives are now traveling to Thailand to escort them back for legal proceedings. Government sources have expressed appreciation for the Thai authorities' cooperation and prompt response.

The Delhi-based restaurateurs, who own the Romeo Lane chain with establishments across 22 cities in four countries, escaped to Phuket, Thailand early Sunday, mere hours after the devastating fire at their nightclub, 'Birch by Romeo Lane', located in Arpora village in northern Goa. The brothers face charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and negligence.

The tragedy claimed 25 lives and left six others injured when fire erupted at the Goa nightclub late Saturday night. That evening, the venue was hosting a musical event with approximately 100 attendees, mostly tourists, enjoying themselves. Video footage shows performers entertaining guests with popular Bollywood songs. Electric firecrackers used during the performance likely triggered the fire.

What transformed the nightclub into a fatal hazard was the extensive use of flammable decorative materials and blatant disregard for fire safety regulations. No operational fire extinguishers or safety alarms were discovered on the premises. Additionally, the access road was too narrow for fire engines to pass through, forcing them to park nearly 400 meters away. This significantly delayed rescue efforts and complicated firefighting operations.

By the time firefighters extinguished the blaze, 25 individuals had perished. Five victims were tourists, while the remainder were staff members. Most casualties were discovered in the basement and succumbed to toxic smoke inhalation.

This catastrophic event shocked the coastal state during its peak tourist season. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant promised severe consequences. Four staff members were taken into custody, and a manhunt commenced for the Luthras. A team from Goa police arrived in the national capital, joining forces with Delhi police. As authorities conducted raids at their Delhi residences, they discovered the Luthras had reserved flights shortly after the fire started and departed hours later. Ajay Gupta, the brothers' business associate, has been apprehended in Delhi.

The Luthra brothers have petitioned a Delhi court for anticipatory bail. Their application states they are merely licensees, not actual property owners of the building housing the club. The brothers requested four weeks of transit anticipatory bail to prevent immediate arrest upon returning to Delhi. They also contend that their Thailand trip was for business purposes and not an attempt to evade consequences of the fire. According to their petition, they were not present at the establishment when the incident occurred.