Luthra Brothers’ New Photo With Thai Immigration Officials Surfaces - Is Deportation Closer?

New Delhi: New images emerging from Thailand show Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra -- co-owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub -- surrounded by Thai officials at an immigration facility in Phuket, as authorities prepare to send them back to India. The brothers were apprehended by Thai authorities early Thursday following coordinated efforts between Goa Police, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and international agencies after they fled the country shortly after the nightclub fireThe Luthra brothers will be taken to Bangkok tomorrow morning for legal formalities and handed over to Indian authorities. In the new photo, the two brothers can be seen sitting on chairs in front of Thai authorities at the Phuket Immigration Control Centre (PICC).

Also Read | Inside Luthra Brothers Phuket Hideout: Exclusive First Look at Hotel Room Where Goa Nightclub Owners Were Nabbed

'Will Bring Luthra Brothers To Goa Soon, Put Them Behind Bars': CM Sawant

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant reaffirmed that strict action will be taken against Luthra brothers, asserting that the government is committed to securing justice for the 25 people who lost their lives in the tragedy. The Chief Minister stated that teams from the Goa Police and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will travel to Thailand to deport the accused to India.Speaking to reporters, Chief Minister Sawant said, "We will bring them to Goa as soon as possible. Teams of the Goa Police and the CBI will go there (to Thailand). Henceforth, any violation and encroachment will not be tolerated. Two suspended women government officers are cooperating with the investigation, while one is not; action will be taken accordingly... To ensure such an accident doesn't occur again, our enforcement team, comprising senior officers, fire safety officers, and building construction officers, is visiting various clubs and restaurants. The clubs where serious violations are found will be closed."CM Sawant reiterated, "Our govt will work to give justice to the 25 people who lost their lives...We will put them (the club owners, Luthra brothers) behind bars."He further said, "We arrested six people after the tragic fire incident. We also suspended three people and are investigating them on a fast track. One of the club's three owners was arrested in Delhi, and an LOC was issued against the other two owners. We also ordered the Regional Passport Office to cancel their passports. With the help of the Ministry of External Affairs and the Home Minister, the Luthra brothers were detained in Thailand. Our team from Goa and the central agencies will bring the two club owners to Goa. We take legal action and put them behind bars."The Luthra brothers, Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra, wanted in connection with the tragic fire at Goa's Birch Hotel, were detained in Thailand today and are expected to be deported to India shortlyAccording to the Goa Police, the brothers were booked on December 7 for fleeing the country while authorities were battling the fire and rescuing trapped guests. Following a Blue Corner Notice issued by Interpol against the absconding accused, Thai authorities apprehended the accused in Thailand.On December 6, late at night at 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub, a devastating blaze claimed 25 lives, including five tourists and 20 staff members. Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra own the restaurant.The Rohini court has reserved the order on the anticipatory bail pleas of Gaurav and Saurav Luthra.The Goa police opposed the anticipatory bail pleas filed by the Luthra brothers, Gaurav and Saurabh. Goa police said that Gaurav Luthra, Saurav Luthra and Ajay Gupta are signatories in the club. The club's Panchayat licence, issued earlier, has already expired and was not renewed.The counsel for the Goa Police argued that the brothers had not cooperated, thereby disentitling them to extraordinary protection by the court. The counsel said that the brothers left India on December 7. However, they said that they had left on the night of December 6. This, the counsel argued, showed that Saurav and Gaurav Luthra misled the court, misled the authorities and left the country.