Took Early IndiGo Flight Amid Nationwide Crisis: How Luthra Brothers Fled To Phuket Just 5 Hours After Goa Fire

Goa

Police are digging deep in their investigation into the Arpora nightclub fire tragedy, and a new twist has emerged. One more co-owner has now been identified, widening the scope of the probe. As the inquiry expands, officials have also detailed how the club’s main owners, the Luthra brothers, managed to flee the country within hours of the incident by boarding an IndiGo flight that departed nearly an hour ahead of schedule due to operational shortages.The brothers’ swift escape has placed them at the centre of a multi-state manhunt involving the Goa Police, Delhi Police and the Interpol Division of the CBI.

Fire Breaks Out At 11:45 PM, Owners Fled Before 6 AM

The fire broke out around 11:45 pm during a packed Saturday night event at the Arpora club. Over 150 tourists were present when electric firecrackers struck the wooden ceiling, triggering an inferno that killed 25 people. Doctors at Goa Medical College have since completed post-mortem examinations for 20 victims and handed the bodies over to families.Within hours of the incident, the club’s co-owners, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, fled Goa for Delhi and by dawn on 7 December, they had boarded IndiGo flight 6E 1073 to Phuket.It is important to note that this was amid a massive shortage of IndiGo flights where the airline cancelled over 1600 flights in one day.

A senior source said, “It shows their intent to avoid police investigation.”The Bureau of Immigration confirmed that the brothers flew out at 5:30 am, barely hours after the tragedy.

Police Miss Them in Delhi by Minutes

Once the FIR was filed, Goa Police moved quickly and dispatched a team to Delhi with an arrest warrant. Officers raided the Luthras’ homes and offices but found them missing.A notice was affixed to their residence, and by the evening of 7 December, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued by the Bureau of Immigration.Goa Police said they have now taken further steps to work with the Interpol Division of the CBI to apprehend the absconding brothers as soon as possible.Police have also informed that another man, Ajay Gupta, is also a partner in the club alongside the Luthra brothers. Police teams in Delhi are now searching for him as well.

Meanwhile, Bharat Kohli, who managed daily operations at the nightclub, has been arrested in Delhi. He has been handed a transit remand and will be taken to Goa for further questioning.Goa Police stated,“As shared earlier, Goa Police apprehended one Bharat Kohli from Delhi and obtained his transit remand for bringing him to Goa for further questioning.”

Staff Members and Suspended Officers Also Under Scrutiny

Four staffers of Birch by Romeo Lane —

• Rajiv Modak (Chief General Manager)
• Priyanshu Thakur (Gate Manager)
• Rajveer Singhania (Bar Manager)
• Vivek Singh (General Manager)

— were arrested on Sunday and remanded to six days’ police custody.Police have also summoned the three previously suspended officers, Siddhi Harlankar, Shamila Monteiro, and Raghuvir D Bagkar, for questioning at Anjuna Police Station. Bagkar, however, failed to appear when called.

Blue Corner Notice Process Initiated

To tighten the net around the absconding owners, Goa Police have initiated the process to secure a Blue Corner Notice against the Luthra brothers. Their contacts, business links, and travel patterns are currently being mapped.