Delhi businessmen Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of the Goa nightclub where a massive fire killed 25 people, have been detained in Thailand after fleeing India. The duo faces charges of culpable homicide and negligence as Indian agencies prepare to seek their deportation for trial in Goa
Gaurav Luthra, center, Saurabh Luthra, right, who fled India after a fire at his Goa nightclub arrested in Thailand on Thursday. (Pic/PTI)
Delhi businessmen Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, who left India shortly after a massive fire at their Goa nightclub claimed 25 lives, have been taken into custody in Thailand.
As reported by news agency IANS, the duo who left the country soon after the blaze broke out at their club ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’, located in Arpora, North Goa, reportedly flew to Phuket just hours after the tragedy at their establishment.
The Luthra brothers, known for running the Romeo Lane restaurant chain with branches in several cities across four countries, are now facing charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, along with other serious allegations of negligence, reported by IANS.
Moreover, Indian agencies are expected to formally request their deportation so that they can be tried in Goa, as per the media reports.
The officials, while highlighting the arrests of the Luthra brothers, said that "the passports of prime accused Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra were suspended," as cited by news agency IANS.
As per the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Central government or any appointed officer has the authority to suspend passports in accordance with Section 10A of the Passports Act 1967 (the relevant provision is included in the Annexure).
Earlier on Wednesday, Ajay Gupta, who is also one of the co-owners of the nightclub, was taken into custody and was further granted 36-hour transit remand by Delhi’s Saket Court. The arrested accused in the tragic Arpora nightclub fire case, Ajay Gupta, was brought to Goa on Thursday and is being taken to the Anjuna Police Station by the Goa Police team.
As reported by news agency ANI, the Delhi Police had earlier informed the Rohini Court that the accused brothers, Gaurav and Saurav Luthra, had left the country soon after the Goa club fire tragedy and that a Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) had already been issued against them by a Goa court.
In view of the concerning nightclub fire, the Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the inquiry report will be ready within eight days, even as the state begins disbursing compensation to victims' families and intensifies safety audits and enforcement at entertainment venues, reported ANI.
Pramod Sawant further said that the inquiry report will be ready within eight days, even as the state begins disbursing compensation to victims' families and intensifies safety audits and enforcement at entertainment venues.
(With inputs from IANS and ANI)
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
