A Delhi court has dismissed anticipatory bail pleas of the Luthra brothers, the owners of the Goa nightclub where 25 people died in a tragic fire on December 6. The court's rejection comes as the fugitives were detained in Thailand on Thursday.
A bench led by Additional Sessions Judge Vandana dismissed the four-week transit anticipatory bail pleas of Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in North Goa's Arpora. The key accused sought a four-week anticipatory relief so that they would not be immediately arrested after their return to Delhi from Thailand.
As many as 25 people died in a tragic fire at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub on December 6. The deceased include tourists, and over 20 staff members. Most of the staff were trapped in the kitchen and basement area of the club. According to the Goa police, suffocation led to mass casualties.
During the proceedings on Thursday, counsel for the state of Goa opposed the pleas, saying, "They left, they concealed, and they are now seeking leniency." During the hearing, the Goa police said the accused were misleading the investigators and not cooperating with the probe.
While the accused claimed they left for Thailand to attend a pre-scheduled business meeting, evidence suggests otherwise, police said.
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According to police, the Luthra brothers escaped from India while rescue forces were battling to douse the fire at the club. The accused booked tickets to Thailand via MakeMyTrip platform only at 1.17am on December 7, police said.
The accused siblings were detained in Thailand earlier in the day. The Interpol issued a Blue Corner Notice against the accused based on the Goa government's request. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the accused will be brought to India soon.
The team of the Goa police and CBI would bring the Luthra brothers, prime accused in the case, back to India 'as soon as possible'. A local panchayat official will also be arrested in the fire case as he was not cooperating with the probe, Sawant told reporters.
