The deportation process has begun to bring back the Luthra brothers from Thailand over the deadly fire at their nightclub in Goa. Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra had fled the country within hours after the tragedy struck their ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ in Arpora. They were eventually detained by the Thai authorities in Phuket following a request from India.
The Luthras are now being brought to Bangkok by Thai officials. A law enforcement team from India will take custody of the accused brothers after they land at the Suvarnabhumi Airport.
They will be taken to the Suan Phlu Immigration Detection Centre and remain there until their deportation formalities are completed. An emergency travel certificate will be issued by the Indian embassy to validate their travel back to the country since their passport remains cancelled—which marks a serious overstay issue.
Thereafter, they will be put on a flight back to India. They are expected to arrive by Monday.
The entire process is being handled by the Indian foreign ministry, the Indian Embassy in Thailand, and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in coordination with the Royal Thai Police and the Thailand government.
Once brought to India, the Delhi-based restaurateurs will face charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and negligence in connection with the nightclub tragedy.
Their request for an anticipatory bail has been rejected by a local court.
After the Goa Police sought the government’s help to bring the Luthras back, their passports were suspended, which landed them in an immigration soup. Meanwhile, blue corner notices were issued by Interpol, identifying them as suspects for alleged violations of the rules required to operate the nightclub.
Thailand immigration authorities soon detained the brothers from their hotel room and shared photos of them with their hands tied and holding their passport.
At least 25 people were killed and six others were injured in the tragedy that shocked the coastal state during the holiday season. The fire erupted past midnight during a musical night at the nightclub. About 100 people, mostly tourists, were partying at that time. The use of electric firecrackers was believed to have caused the fire.
The heavy use of flammable material in the club decor turned it into a death trap. Shocking violation of fire safety norms and no functional extinguishers were found in the club, with fingers being raised at the club authorities.