Delhi Court Rejects Luthra Brothers' Plea for Pre-Arrest Bail in Goa Nightclub Fire Case

A Delhi court has refused to grant Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra pre-arrest bail in the case linked to the devastating fire at their Goa nightclub that left 25 people dead last week.

The brothers, currently held by authorities in Thailand after fleeing India hours after the tragedy, are expected to be brought back to the country soon.

Court Dismisses Plea After Detailed Arguments

The Luthras had approached the Delhi court seeking interim protection from arrest and anticipatory transit bail. Both requests were turned down. During the hearing, their counsel argued the brothers were "also human" and highlighted the number of people employed by their hospitality ventures.

Senior advocate Tanveer Ahmed Mir contended that the brothers were not present at the property when the blaze erupted at 'Birch by Romeo Lane', their lakeside club in Goa's Arpora. He insisted the incident stemmed from negligence rather than any criminal intent. Mir also remarked that the brothers had not escaped after "a fraud of Rs 5,000 crore", referring to high-profile fugitives living overseas.

Prosecution Points to Suspicious Exit

The prosecution opposed the bail plea, stressing the timing and manner in which the brothers left India. According to investigators, Saurabh and Gaurav booked IndiGo tickets to Phuket at 1.17 am on Saturday, even as firefighters were still battling the flames at the club. Their hurried departure, prosecutors said, suggested an attempt to evade responsibility.

Deportation Expected Soon

Thailand is preparing to deport the brothers within 24 hours. A Goa Police team is scheduled to travel to Bangkok to complete the necessary formalities. While India shares an extradition treaty with Thailand, officials have opted for deportation since it is faster than pursuing a formal extradition process through Thai courts.

Passport Suspension Triggered Action

To initiate deportation, the Indian government suspended the passports of both brothers on Wednesday. This left them in violation of Thai immigration laws, automatically prompting the process that will bring them back to face the investigation in India.