Luthra brothers booked Thailand tickets as Goa nightclub burned, probe reveals
Goa Police have discovered that the absconding Luthra brothers booked flight tickets to Thailand at 1:17 am on December 7, the same time emergency teams were battling the deadly fire at their Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Anjuna. While investigators say the timing indicates an attempt to flee, the brothers claim their travel was pre-planned, telling the Rohini Court that Saurabh had left a day earlier for business engagements.
New Delhi: Goa Police have found that the absconding Luthra brothers Saurabh and Gaurav booked their flight tickets to Thailand at 1:17 am on December 7, at the very moment firefighters and police were trying to contain the massive blaze at their Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Anjuna. The disclosure has deepened questions around the duo, who managed to leave India within hours of the incident that claimed 25 lives.
Investigators said the tickets were booked on the MakeMyTrip platform even as rescue teams were battling the inferno. A senior officer said, "They were preparing to flee as our teams were trying to save lives.”
The Ministry of External Affairs is reviewing a request from the Goa government to cancel the passports of the two accused. One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the ministry had received a "communication from the government of Goa with regard to Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra”. According to the person, "The external affairs ministry is examining the request to revoke the passports under the Passports Act of I
Brothers call trip ‘pre-planned’
In court, the Luthras contested the allegation that they escaped, insisting their travel had been scheduled earlier. Their counsel told the Rohini Court in Delhi that Saurabh had departed for Thailand on December 6 for business-related work. "On December 6, the applicant travelled to Thailand for professional engagements and potential restaurant sites,” the lawyer informed the court, adding that the brothers want protection so they can return to India without being arrested immediately.
The court heard their plea for transit anticipatory bail but refused to grant urgent protection. The matter will be reheard tomorrow. Goa Police, who were present in court, strongly opposed their plea. Represented by senior advocates Sidharth Luthra and Tanvir Ahmed Mir, the brothers said they feared being apprehended the moment they land.
Their counsel argued, "I am saying I want to come back to India; they want to arrest me. I am seeking relief to come back and approach the Goa court Witch-hunting is what I am concerned about.”
‘Vindictive action’
The brothers also told the court that the demolition of their second Goa property reflected a "vindictive nature” in the action being taken against them. The beach shack, also linked to the Luthras, was demolished after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant ordered an immediate crackdown on illegal structures on salt pan land lacking fire-safety clearance. Authorities said the shack was unauthorised and posed hazards similar to the Anjuna nightclub, with no safety systems in place.
Continuing investigation
In a parallel development, Goa Police produced another accused named Ajay Gupta before a Delhi magistrate on Wednesday. After his medical examination, he will be taken to Goa for further questioning.
Officials say the investigation is advancing swiftly, and more arrests are expected as they reconstruct the events before and after the fire, including the alleged attempt by the main accused to flee the country.
The case will continue in the Rohini Court, where the Luthra brothers’ plea and the Goa government’s reply will be taken up next.