Goa club blaze: Luthras booked Thailand tickets as fire raged; manhunt on | India News
NEW DELHI: Goa investigators said brothers Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra booked tickets to Phuket at 1:17 a.m. on December 7, shortly after the fire broke out at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora, North Goa. At that moment, police and local authorities were battling the flames and trying to rescue trapped staff members.By 5.30 am Sunday, the brothers had boarded IndiGo flight 6E-1073 to Phuket. Goa DGP Alok Kumar said their swift departure was “a clear attempt to evade investigation.”Despite leaving the country, Saurabh later posted a message on social media expressing “profound grief” and “unwavering solidarity” with the families of the victims. The Bureau of Immigration soon issued Look Out Circulars against both brothers.A Goa police team travelled to Delhi on Sunday with an arrest warrant and searched the brothers’ homes and offices, but found nothing. Immigration authorities in Mumbai later confirmed that they had already left India. The Luthras’ attempt to seek legal protection also stalled. On Wednesday, a Delhi court refused to grant interim relief and listed their anticipatory bail plea for hearing on Thursday.Meanwhile, the investigation in Goa continues. Four Birch staff members — chief general manager Rajiv Modak, gate manager Priyanshu Thakur, bar manager Rajveer Singhania, and general manager Vivek Singh — have been arrested and remanded to six days’ custody. Three suspended Goa government officials have also been summoned as part of the probe.
