New Delhi, Dec 11 (NationPress) The Luthra brothers, Saurabh and Gaurav, two Delhi entrepreneurs, have been apprehended in Thailand following their abrupt departure from India after a catastrophic fire at their nightclub in Goa that resulted in the deaths of 25 individuals.

Known for their management of the Romeo Lane restaurant chain, which operates across multiple cities in four countries, the duo reportedly flew to Phuket mere hours after the incident at their venue, ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’, situated in Arpora, North Goa.

They are being charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder amid serious claims of negligence. As per reports from NDTV, Indian authorities are expected to formally seek their extradition for prosecution in Goa.

Authorities have suspended the passports of the main suspects, Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, as stated by officials.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the central government or designated officials can suspend passports in line with Section 10A of the Passports Act 1967. Those with suspended passports are prohibited from using them for international travel.

In criminal cases, passports are often suspended, and regaining them requires meeting specific legal conditions. Subsequently, sources indicate that the passports are likely to be revoked.

The devastating fire broke out late Saturday during a music event attended by nearly 100 people, many of whom were tourists. Videos from that night show performers engaging the audience with Bollywood hits. The inferno is believed to have been ignited by electric firecrackers used during the performance.

The nightclub quickly transformed into a deadly trap due to extensive flammable decorations and a blatant neglect of fire safety standards. Investigators found no operational fire extinguishers or alarm systems on site. Additionally, the narrow access road hindered fire engines, which had to be stationed about 400 meters away, delaying rescue operations and complicating firefighting efforts.

By the time firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control, 25 lives had been lost, including five tourists and 20 staff members. Most victims were discovered in the basement, having succumbed to toxic smoke inhalation.

This tragedy has sent shockwaves through Goa during the peak tourist season. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has pledged strict measures, and four employees of the club have been detained. A manhunt was initiated for the Luthra brothers, with Goa Police collaborating with local law enforcement in Delhi. They discovered that the brothers had booked flights shortly after the fire and departed within hours. Their business associate, Ajay Gupta, was arrested in the capital.

In the meantime, the Luthra brothers have filed for anticipatory bail in a Delhi court, claiming they only held the license and were not the actual owners of the building housing the nightclub. They are seeking four weeks of transit anticipatory bail to avoid arrest upon their return to India, contending that their trip to Thailand was for business purposes rather than an attempt to evade responsibility after the fire, asserting they were not present at the nightclub during the incident.