Luthra brothers taken to Goa; cops say they had 'ultimate control over club's ops, safety arrangement'

New Delhi: Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of Goa's Birch by Rome Lane nightclub where a deadly fire claimed 25 lives, were deported to India on Tuesday, nine days after they fled to Thailand after the December 6 devastating blaze.

Shortly after they landed at the Delhi airport, the Goa Police took them into custody and obtained a transit remand for their transfer to Goa. They were flown to Goa on Wednesday morning and are expected to arrive at the Manohar International Airport, Mopa in North Goa by 11 am.

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'Ultimate control over operation, safety arrangement'

While seeking their transit remand, police on Tuesday said that the Luthra brothers were the main owners of the nightclub and "had ultimate control over the operation, safety arrangement, permissions and events conducted at the premises."

In its order, the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class Twinkle Chawla of Patiala House Court said, “It has been averred that there is sufficient evidence of the involvement of the accused persons as the accused persons are the main owners/partners of the establishment having ultimate control over the operation, safety arrangement, permissions and events conducted at the premises of ‘Birch’ by Romeo Lane Arpora, Bardez Goa.”

Luthra brothers to be brought to Goa today

Goa Police, in a statement, on Tuesday night said, “After taking custody of the Luthra brothers in New Delhi and on obtaining transit remand, Goa Police is bringing both the accused to Goa. A Goa police team is likely to land in Goa with the arrested accused around 11 am on Wednesday morning."

The Luthra brothers had left India and fled to Thailand hours after a deadly fire ripped through the nightclub in Arpora in south Goa on December 6. The duo was detained from a hotel in Patong in Thailand on December 11 following a request from the Indian government and deported to India on Tuesday. The Luthras were issued an emergency certificate for their one-way travel to India as their passports were suspended by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Earlier, a lookout circular (LOC) was issued against them by the Bureau of Immigration at the request of Goa Police after they fled the country. A Blue Corner Notice was issued against them. Five managers and staff members have already been arrested by the Goa Police in connection with the fire incident.