 "Saurabh Luthra is described as a “gold medalist engineer-turned into a promising and fastest-growing restaurateur”. He is owner of Birch nightclub in Goa that caught fire, killing 25 people. He has since fled to Thailand Image courtesy: X, AP")
Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane club in Goa, have been detained in Thailand, sources told CNN-News 18.
The legal process for their return to India is ongoing, according to sources.
A fire at the club killed 25 persons, including 20 staffers and five tourists, on Saturday. The club was located in Arpora, 25 kilometres from Panaji.
Saurabh and Gaurav arrived in Thailand’s Phuket hours after the fire. Officials previously told PTI they booked their tickets online at 1.17 am on Sunday when the authorities were still trying to douse the fire and rescue people at the club. They then left Thailand in the early hours of Sunday by an IndiGo flight.
Sources told CNN-News 18 that Indian agencies were in regular touch with Thai services and they were constantly getting information about Luthras in Thailand.
After finding the Luthras were outside the main city, raids were conducted with local police on Thursday morning, according to sources.
Now that Luthras have been detained, the formalities are going on and they should be brought back to India later today in the evening or tomorrow, sources said.
The police have taken into custody Ajay Gupta, a ‘silent partner’ of the Luthras in the club. Five managers and staffers have also been arrested by the Goa Police.
Luthra brothers approached Delhi court for interim relief
In the meantime, the Luthras approached a coach in Delhi for interim relief. They refuted allegations that they had fled and said they were in Thailand for a business meeting. They further said they were only licensees, not the actual owners of the club.
In his bail plea, Saurabh requested four weeks of transit anticipatory protection, arguing that returning to Goa posed an “imminent threat to his life, liberty and safety” due to angry mobs, according to PTI.
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View AllHowever, Additional Sessions Judge Vandana posted the matter for Thursday and asked the Goa Police to respond, the news agency reported.
After the Luthras left the country, Interpol issued a ‘blue corner notice’ for them. This type of a notice warrants the collection of additional information about a person’s identity, location, or activities in relation to a criminal investigation.