Goa nightclub tragedy: How early-morning raids helped detain Luthra brothers in Thailand | Details

Early-morning raids, carried out in coordination with local police, led to their detention

The Luthra brothers, co-owners of the Goa nightclub where 25 people were killed in a fire on December 6, have been detained in Thailand’s Phuket, days after a look-out circular and an Interpol Blue Corner Notice was issued against them.

Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra were detained on Thursday and are expected to be brought back to India soon, as the process to secure their return has reportedly been initiated. The duo had left the country barely hours after tragedy struck their 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub in North Goa.

How the Luthras were tracked?

According to a CNN-News18 report, citing officials, Indian agencies had been in touch with Thai authorities and were getting continuous updates about the brothers’ whereabouts and stay. Eventually, they learnt that the brothers were staying outside the main city area.

“They had changed one location but were finally found," an official told CNN-News18.

Early-morning raids, carried out in coordination with local police, led to their detention on Thursday. The immigration process is expected to conclude by tonight or tomorrow, after which the duo will be returned to India.

Prior to their detention, the Goa Police suspended the passports of the Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), passports can be suspended by the central government or any designated officer as per the provisions of Section 10A of the Passports Act, 1967. The holder, whose passport has been suspended, cannot leave the country on such a passport.

Meanwhile, a Delhi court on Wednesday refused to give any interim protection from arrest to Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra. In the court, Luthras' lawyer refuted allegations that they had fled, claiming the trip was for a business meeting and argued that the brothers are only licensees, not the actual owners of the nightclub.

The duo had reportedly booked their tickets for Phuket, Thailand, through a travel portal at 1:17 am on December 7, within an hour of learning about the devastating fire. At the time when police and administration were still battling the blaze and attempting to rescue staff, the two left India in the early hours of Sunday by an IndiGo flight, according to investigators probing the blaze.

In a related development, the Goa Police on Wednesday arrested Ajay Gupta, who claimed to be a silent partner and investor in the 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub, with the help of Delhi Police Crime Branch. A look out circular (LOC) had been issued against him.