With the transit anticipatory bail pleas of Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa, getting rejected yesterday, their arrest upon landing in India from Thailand is imminent.
The brothers had escaped to Thailand soon after a massive fire at their nightclub killed 25 people, including tourists and staff members, on December 6. Most of the staff were trapped in the kitchen and basement and died of suffocation, according to the Goa police.
Gaurav, 44, and his brother Saurav, 40, had fled to Phuket within hours of the tragedy. An Interpol Blue Corner notice was issued on December 9 following a request from the Goa police routed through the CBI. They were detained a day ago, with their pictures in handcuffs holding their passports emerging on social media.
According to officials, their deportation has been initiated, and the two would be brought to India after completion of exit formalities in Thailand.
What is causing the delay?
Thailand’s legal process is yet to be completed, and News18 quoted sources as saying that it could take at least two more days for the Luthra brothers to be deported to India.
With their passports revoked, as emergency travel document now needs to be prepared for them to leave Thailand. The Indian embassy will then have to wait for other legal formalities to be completed.
The country will cancel the brothers’ tourist visas for misleading immigration officers about their true intentions of the visit, as the Blue Corner notice proves that they were fugitives from Indian law.
