The duo were declared ‘persona non grata’ in Thailand after authorities suspended their passports in New Delhi. Apart from this, their travel documents also became invalid after they failed to respond to a notice asking why action should not be taken against them
The detention of the Luthra brothers, owners of the Goa nightclub, that caught in a deadly fire last weekend, took an ironic turn after Saurabh and Gaurav were picked up from Hotel Indigo in Phuket. They fled India in an IndiGo flight, bringing their story to a full circle.
The duo were declared ‘persona non grata’ in Thailand after authorities suspended their passports in New Delhi. Apart from this, their travel documents also became invalid after they failed to respond to a notice asking why action should not be taken against them.
The fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane club in Goa killed 25 people, including 20 staff members and five tourists, on Saturday. The club was located in Arpora, 25 kilometres from Panaji.
How did they escape?
Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra arrived in Thailand’s Phuket hours after the fire. Officials previously told PTI they booked their tickets online at 1.17 am on Sunday when the authorities were still trying to douse the fire and rescue people at the club. They then left Thailand in the early hours of Sunday on an IndiGo flight.
Police officials say that the brothers started planning their escape shortly after they learned that there had been a fire at their club. By 5:30 am on Sunday, Saurabh and Gaurav were airborne on IndiGo flight 6E-1073.
Later that morning, a Goa police team arrived in Delhi with an arrest warrant and searched the brothers’ home and offices, but they were nowhere to be found. Notices were posted at their residence, and by evening, a lookout circular had been issued. Interpol subsequently followed with a blue corner notice.
When will the brothers be brought back to India?
Both members of the Luthra duo have been moved to Bangkok. They are currently being held at the Immigration Division Center in the city.
Emergency Travel Certificates will be issued to them there, with the Embassy responsible for providing the documents.
Once the certificates are issued, the process of repatriating them to India will move forward quickly.
It is expected to take a few days before they are brought back to India.
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