Luthra Brothers Face Court After Fleeing India Following Fatal Nightclub Fire in Goa

The prosecution emphasized that the brothers booked a flight within 40 minutes following the incident.

While advocating for the Luthra brothers, who escaped to Thailand shortly after 25 individuals lost their lives in a fire at their Goa nightclub 'Birch by Romeo Lane', their attorney informed a Delhi court that they are "also humans", provide employment to thousands, and were over a thousand kilometers away when the fire erupted.

Senior advocate Tanveer Ahmed Mir, representing Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra in an anticipatory bail petition, also told the Rohini Court that the brothers were legitimate businessmen, not individuals who absconded after perpetrating a Rs 5,000 crore fraud - seemingly referencing fugitive economic offenders who departed the country fearing prosecution and are indebted to banks for thousands of crores.

Contesting the bail application, the prosecution displayed photographs to the court allegedly proving that the brothers were planning to establish a business in Thailand and also highlighted that they were smiling in these images.

Advocate Mir argued that while lives were tragically lost in the fire, this constituted a case of death by negligence rather than homicide, and that criminal law was being extended to include "intention" by asserting the brothers' responsibility.

The lawyer stated that the brothers, who were apprehended in Phuket on Thursday, were "humans too" and were receiving death threats on social media. "People are threatening to set the brothers on fire," Mir reported.

Claiming their properties in Goa were demolished without proper notification, the lawyer questioned, "How has their departure from the country on the night of the incident become such a significant offense? Liability is being assigned as if they personally initiated the fire. They were over 1,000 km away when the incident occurred."

"Yes, they signed licenses but that doesn't mean they managed operations. The law requires the owner's signature. They operate 40 restaurants nationwide but don't determine what's prepared in the kitchen," Mir contended.

The lawyer described the Luthras as tax-compliant, law-abiding citizens whose businesses support more than 1,500 families. "They are entrepreneurs, not individuals who fled after committing a Rs 5,000 crore fraud... They seek simple relief: permission to return to India, travel to Goa, and pursue legal remedies there. They went to Phuket for work, where they plan to employ Indians again."

Prosecution's Perspective

Arguing against granting protection, the prosecution pointed out that the Luthras booked a flight within 40 minutes of the incident and fled the country.

"They claimed in their application that they departed for Thailand on December 6, but in fact, they escaped on December 7 at 1:17 am, after people had perished in the fire," the prosecution lawyer stated.

The court has reserved its decision and may announce it later on Thursday.