'Luthras had ultimate control over club operations, safety arrangement': Cops
What's the story
Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, were taken to Goa on Wednesday morning after they landed at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday afternoon. The duo had fled to Thailand after a fire at their nightclub killed 25 people on December 6. They were arrested upon landing at Delhi airport and granted a two-day transit remand by a court to facilitate their transfer to Goa for further questioning.
Safety lapses
Investigation reveals nightclub's operational violations
Investigators have alleged that the Luthra brothers had "ultimate control" over the nightclub's operations, including safety arrangements and statutory permissions. They are accused of organizing a fireworks display without proper precautions on December 6. Preliminary investigations suggest that electric firecrackers hit the wooden ceiling, causing a rapid spread of fire. Further probes revealed illegal operations for nearly 18 months without mandatory permissions and and on a licence that had not been renewed since 2024, per News18.
Legal proceedings
Luthra brothers face serious charges in nightclub fire
The Luthra brothers are facing charges of culpable homicide and negligence over the December 6 blaze. The fire killed four tourists and 21 employees at their nightclub in North Goa's Arpora. They fled to Phuket immediately after the incident but were detained by Thai authorities on an Interpol Blue Corner Notice last week.
Bail denial
Court denies bail, criticizes Luthra brothers' actions
A Delhi court had earlier denied pre-arrest bail to the brothers, calling allegations against them "grave and serious." The judge slammed their attempts to evade legal proceedings by booking tickets to Phuket an hour after the fire. Despite their claims of not being on the run and facing death threats, these arguments were dismissed by authorities. So far, several people have been arrested in connection with this case, including Gurgaon-based partner Ajay Gupta and senior managerial staff of the nightclub.