Luthra Brothers Arrested in Thailand Following Deadly Goa Nightclub Fire That Killed 25

The Luthra brothers, Saurabh and Gaurav, have been apprehended in Thailand following their arrest. As the primary owners of 'Birch by Romeo Lane', a Goa nightclub that erupted in flames on December 6, they were responsible for an establishment where 25 individuals lost their lives and six others sustained injuries.

The brothers purchased flight tickets to Phuket, Thailand during the night spanning December 6 and 7, while Goa Police and Fire Services teams were still conducting rescue operations at the devastated venue.

To prevent further travel, the government invoked Section 10A of the Passports Act to suspend their passports. Simultaneously, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) issued a Blue Corner notice, which NDTV has obtained access to.

An Interpol Blue Notice serves to gather additional information about an individual's identity, location, or activities related to a criminal investigation. In the Luthra brothers' case, authorities were aware they had escaped to Phuket, Thailand, but required specific information regarding their exact location.

The primary purpose of a Blue Notice is to collect information about persons of interest, particularly concerning previous criminal records and ongoing investigations, and to locate suspects.

The Blue Notices issued against the Luthra brothers include accusations of injury causing death, manslaughter, and murder. According to the notices, Saurabh Luthra, Gaurav Luthra, and other partners organized a fire show "without taking proper care and caution and without providing fire safety equipment, other safety gadgets."

On December 6, at 11:45 pm, this fire show resulted in a "serious fire" that claimed the lives of 25 people, including five tourists.

The notices further state that the brothers organized the fire show despite knowing their nightclub lacked an emergency exit door on both the ground floor and deck floor for evacuation during emergencies.

Additionally, the Blue Notice accuses the Luthra brothers of operating a "restaurant without obtaining essential permission or licenses from competent authorities."