Goa Nightclub Fire: Luthra Brothers, Detained in Thailand, to Return to Delhi Today on IndiGo Flight

Bangkok: Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of Goa nightclub 'Birch by Romeo Lane', which caught fire earlier this month, are being brought back to Delhi. The two are among five passengers flying

from Bangkok to Delhi on IndiGo flight 6E-1064, expected to land at the national capital around 1:45 pm, top airline sources told Times Now.Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra are the co-owners of the nightclub in North Goa - 'Birch by Romeo Lane', where 25 people were killed in a fire on December 6. They fled to Phuket within hours of the fire tragedy at the Goa nightclub and had been staying in Patong. They were detained when they stepped out to collect a food packet from an Indian food joint. Officials said teams from the Goa Police and Delhi Police will be present at the airport. Following their arrival, the brothers will be produced before the Patiala House Court, after which the Goa Police is expected to seek transit remand to take them to Goa for further investigation.

Authorities added that all necessary paperwork has been completed and the deportation process is proceeding as planned, with the brothers set to be formally handed over to Indian agencies. "Luthra brothers (Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra) are expected to reach at Delhi Airport around 1:45 pm. At airport Goa Police and Delhi Police teams will be present. They will be then taken to Patiala House Court, from where the Goa Police will take them on transit remand," officials told Times Now. The Indian agencies, including the embassy officials in Bangkok have been in touch with Thai authorities to expedite the deportation of the Luthras.

The Luthra brothers had booked their flight tickets to Thailand at 1:17 am on December 7, even as Goa Police and Fire Services were battling the massive blaze and trying to rescue those trapped inside. The duo booked their tickets to Thailand on the MMT platform at 1:17 am on December 7.As an Interpol Blue Corner Notice was issued against them, the duo moved an anticipatory bail plea. The brothers sought four weeks of transit anticipatory bail so that they would not be immediately arrested after they returned to Delhi from Thailand.However, they failed to get interim relief from a Delhi court on Wednesday. The court has posted their plea seeking transit anticipatory bail for hearing on Thursday.Additional Sessions Judge Vandana, who was hearing the transit anticipatory bail of the accused persons, sought a response from Goa on the transit anticipatory bail filed by the two brothers and set the next date of hearing for Thursday.Five managers and staff members have already been arrested by Goa Police in connection with the fire that broke out at the nightclub located in Arpora, 25 km from Panaji, around midnight. Police have recorded the statements of at least 50 persons in the case so far.