Goa fire: 2nd club of Luthra brothers to be demolished
What's the story
The Goa government has decided to demolish "Romeo Lane," a second nightclub owned by the Luthra brothers, Gaurav and Saurabh, in Vagator. The brothers are the owners of "Birch by Romeo Lane" nightclub, where a massive fire broke out last week, killing 25 people. According to NDTV sources, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that bulldozers would raze the Vagator-based establishment, which was allegedly built on government land, after 3:00pm.
Legal proceedings
Luthra brothers charged, flee to Thailand
The Luthra brothers have been booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and conspiracy over the fire ar Birch by Romeo Lane. They reportedly fled India three hours after the fire incident, taking an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Phuket. Their escape was discovered during police investigations when officers visited their Delhi residence only to find they had already left the country.
International alert
Interpol issues Blue Corner Notice for Luthra brothers
The Goa Police have issued a lookout notice for the Luthra brothers through the Bureau of Immigration. DSP Nilesh Rane said immigration officials confirmed their flight to Phuket on December 7, "immediately after the incident." The police are now working with Interpol Division of CBI to locate them. Senior officials confirmed that a Blue Corner Notice has now been issued to trace the brothers.
Ongoing investigation
Multiple complaints filed against the Vagator establishment
According to India Today, multiple complaints had been filed against the Vagator establishment with multiple departments, including the police, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority, the Pollution Control Board, and the Town and Country Planning office. Yet, no action was taken. Documents and testimonies obtained by India Today revealed that the structure was perched precariously close to the tide line, with waters reaching its loft at high tide. Activists and residents had called it a "ticking time bomb."