The Luthra brothers, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, who had been evading Indian authorities, were tracked down and arrested in Thailand following a coordinated
intelligence-led operation when they stepped out to collect a food packet, sources told Times Now. Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra are the co-owners of the nightclub in 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, sources said. According to top sources, the brothers were finally nabbed while stepping out to collect a food packet from an Indian food joint, a routine movement that helped agencies zero in on their location. The authorities in Thailand are initiating the process to deport Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra. The Indian embassy in Bangkok is in close touch with the Thai authorities to expedite the deportation of the Luthras.
The Luthra brothers 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.
