The Goa police on Tuesday took into custody the fugitive Luthra brothers, who allegedly escaped from India during the tragic fire at Birch by Romeo lane in Goa earlier this month. Police took custody of the accused on their arrival from Thailand at Delhi airport.
Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra, the co-owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in North Goa's Arpora, where a massive fire killed 25 people, were deported from Thailand on Tuesday. According to reports, the brothers landed at Delhi airport in an Indigo flight and were immediately handed over to authorities for further legal proceedings.
The accused were produced in a Delhi court by the Goa police for transit remand. According to police, the accused are facing charges for culpable homicide and negligence.
As many as 25 people died in a fire at the nightclub on December 6, allegedly operating in violation of safety norms. The deceased include tourists and over 20 of them were staff and kitchen members of the club. According to police, the majority of them died due to suffocation.
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A Delhi court had earlier denied anticipatory bail to the brothers. They were detained in Thailand after Interpol issued a Blue Corner Notice against them. During the hearing, police said that while rescue forces were struggling to douse the fire, the brothers booked tickets via MakeMyTrip and escaped from India during the early hours of December 7.
The Goa government also approached the Ministry of External Affairs to cancel the passports of the brothers. However, following request from the Indian government, the duo was detained by Thai authorities at Phuket on December 11.