THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Panaji, Dec 11: The two co-owners of the Goa nightclub where a massive fire killed 25 people have been arrested in Thailand’s Phuket, senior officials confirmed on Thursday.
Authorities said Saurabh Luthra and his brother Gaurav were held by Thailand police following a request from the Indian government, with procedures now underway to bring them back under an existing extradition treaty between India and Thailand, operational since 2013.
According to officials, the Luthra brothers had hastily booked tickets to Phuket at 1.17 am on December 7—barely an hour after learning about the blaze at their establishment, Birch by Romeo Lane, in Arpora, North Goa.
Even as rescue efforts were still ongoing at the nightclub, the duo boarded an IndiGo flight out of the country in the early hours of Sunday.
The Goa Police subsequently sought assistance from the Central Bureau of Investigation, which issued an Interpol Blue Corner Notice to help track their movement. Their detention in Phuket marks a significant step toward bringing the accused back to face investigation in India.
Earlier on Wednesday, the nightclub’s co-owner Ajay Gupta was brought from Delhi to Goa on transit remand for questioning. Gupta is a silent partner and investor in the club.
Goa Police reached Manohar International Airport, Mopa, with him at 9:45 pm on Wednesday and later took him to Anjuna Police Station for further investigation.
