In brief
Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, owners of Birch By Romeo Lane in Goa, have been arrested in Thailand after fleeing post a deadly club fire that resulted in 25 fatalities. Investigators suspect the fire was ignited by fireworks inside the club. The brothers expressed their intention to comply with Indian authorities regarding their return.
Two brothers wanted in connection with a deadly fire at their nightclub in India’s Goa state, which killed 25 people, have been detained in Thailand, India’s ambassador to Thailand, Nagesh Singh, confirmed.
Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, owners of Birch By Romeo Lane club, fled to Phuket shortly after the incident earlier this week.
Singh stated on Thursday that they would be sent back to India following a court in Delhi's refusal to grant them protection from arrest and the Goa government's motion to revoke their passports.
The brothers maintain that they never intended to evade the law and have expressed willingness to cooperate with authorities upon their return to India.
The tragic incident unfolded early on Sunday when a fire broke out at the club located in a vibrant nightlife area, with investigators suspecting fireworks triggered the blaze.
Most of the victims were club staff, including five tourists. Following the incident, police raided the brothers' Delhi home only to discover they had left the country, prompting a request for Interpol's assistance to track them down.
The Luthra brothers, through their lawyer, stated they would return to India on Thursday to submit themselves to the jurisdiction of the police authorities and the judicial system.
Saurabh Luthra, identified on social media as the club's chairman, expressed profound grief in a Monday statement, extending solidarity to the families affected by the tragedy and promising support for the bereaved.
In the aftermath of the fire, Goa’s Chief Minister Pramod Sawant disclosed that six individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident, stating that more arrests are anticipated.
Goa, a former Portuguese colony known for its nightlife and sandy beaches, attracts millions of tourists each year.
