The deportation process to bring back the Luthra brothers from Thailand over the deadly fire at their nightclub in Goa has now moved into its final stages. Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra fled the country within hours after the tragedy struck their ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ in Arpora. They were later detained by Thai authorities in Phuket following a request from India.
They have now been brought to Bangkok by Thai officials and kept at the Suan Phlu Immigration Detection Centre. They will stay there until all deportation formalities are completed. A law enforcement team from India is expected to take custody of the accused brothers soon.
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Emergency travel certificate
An emergency travel certificate will be issued by the Indian embassy to validate their travel back to India since their passport remains cancelled, which marks a serious overstay issue. After this, they will be put on a flight back to the country. They are expected to arrive by Monday.
The entire process is being handled by the Indian foreign ministry, the Indian Embassy in Thailand, and the Central Bureau of Investigation in coordination with the Royal Thai Police and the Thai government.
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Legal charges await in India
Once the brothers are brought to India, the Delhi-based restaurateurs will face charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and negligence in connection with the nightclub tragedy. Their request for anticipatory bail has already been rejected by a Delhi court.
The deportation follows days of diplomatic and law enforcement efforts in India and Thailand. To trap them, the government cancelled their passports which placed them in immigration trouble. Interpol blue corner notices were also issued, identifying them as suspects for alleged violations of rules required to operate the nightclub.
Thai authorities later detained them in their hotel room and shared photos of them with their hands tied and holding their passports.
At least 25 people were killed, and six others were injured in the fire that erupted past midnight during a musical night at the nightclub. About 100 people, mostly tourists, were present, and the use of electric firecrackers was believed to have caused the blaze.
