Goa nightclub owners deported from Thailand

Owners of the nightclub in Goa, where 25 people were killed in a fire on December 6, are expected to be brought to Goa on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra were deported to Delhi from Thailand and produced before a local court.

The Goa Police produced both the accused before a judicial magistrate at the Patiala House Court in New Delhi seeking transit remand of three days. The magistrate allowed the police a transit remand of for two days. The accused were taken to the court in separate police vehicles amid heavy security The Luthra brothers are facing a case of culpable homicide and negligence following the December 6 tragedy, which investigators allege was compounded by the nightclub operating in violation of mandatory fire safety norms.

The deportation comes amid an ongoing probe into the deadly blaze, which triggered widespread outrage and led to scrutiny over alleged safety violations and lapses by the nightclub management.

The Luthras, co-owners of ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub located in Arpora in North Goa, left for Phuket in Thailand, shortly after the fire incident. The two were spotted during an outing in Phuket and detained from their hotel room in Thailand following a request from India on December 11. An Interpol Blue Corner Notice was issued against them.

The two were detained by the Thai authorities in Phuket on December 11 following the intervention of the Indian mission, which was in close touch with the Thai Government in the case.

Several videos circulating online showed the Luthra brothers at Bangkok airport ahead of their departure. They were handed over to the Indian authorities on arrival for further legal proceedings in the case.