Luthra brothers directly responsible for organising fireworks at Goa nightclub: Police

Gaurav Luthra and his brother Saurabh, co-owners of the Goa nightclub where 25 people were killed in a fire incident earlier this month, will be brought to the state from Delhi on Wednesday.

A city court has granted the Goa Police a two-day transit remand of the accused, who were arrested on Tuesday as soon as they landed in the national capital after being deported from Thailand.

Judicial Magistrate Twinkle Chawla in the Patiala House Court has also directed the police officials to provide prescribed medicines to both accused.

A team of the Goa Police will be landing with the Luthra brothers at the Manohar International Airport, Mopa in North Goa at 11 am, PTI reported, quoting a police spokesperson.

In the remand papers submitted to the court, the investigators alleged that the Luthras had “ultimate control" over the operations of the nightclub 'Birch by Romeo Lane'.

The duo were directly responsible for organising fireworks at the venue on December 6 without adequate precautions or proper safety equipment, the cops claimed, according to a CNN-News18 report.

The Luthras left for Phuket in Thailand shortly after the fire incident on December 6, prompting Indian authorities to approach Interpol to issue a Blue Corner Notice against them.

They were detained by Thai authorities in Phuket on December 11 following an intervention by the Indian mission. 

The Indian government had impounded the passports of the two brothers and submitted a dossier to Thai authorities alleging their involvement in the death of 25 people, including four tourists, in the fire.

Five managers and staff members of the 'Birch by Romeo Lane' have already been arrested by the Goa Police in connection with the fire. 

The popular party venue in Arpora village, approximately 25 km from the state capital, Panaji, opened last year.