Panaji/New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday refused to give any interim protection from arrest to Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of the ill-fated Goa nightclub who fled to Thailand, as their partner was held in connection with the fire incident that killed 25 people last weekend.
In the court, the Luthras’ lawyer refuted allegations that they had fled, claiming the trip was for a business meeting and argued that the brothers are only licensees, not the actual owners of the nightclub.
In his bail plea, Saurabh requested four weeks of transit anticipatory protection, arguing that returning to Goa posed an “imminent threat to his life, liberty and safety” due to angry mobs.
“My other restaurants have been bulldozed. The authorities and even the fourth estate are baying for my blood,” his lawyer said in the court. However, Additional Sessions Judge Vandana posted the matter for Thursday and asked Goa police to respond.
Meanwhile, new details emerged regarding the escape of Luthras, against whom an Interpol Blue Corner notice has been issued. Officials said that the duo booked their tickets for Phuket, Thailand, through a travel portal at 1:17 am on December 7, within an hour of learning about the devastating fire.
At the time when police and administration were still battling the blaze and attempting to rescue staff, the two left India in the early hours of Sunday by an IndiGo flight.
In a related development, the Goa Police on Wednesday arrested Ajay Gupta, who claimed to be a silent partner and investor in the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub in North Goa, with the help of Delhi Police Crime Branch. A Look Out Circular (LOC) had been issued against him.
Gupta, a resident of Jammu, was produced before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Vinod Joshi, who granted Goa Police a 36-hour transit remand to take him to Goa.
The court cited the ongoing air travel crisis caused by disrupted IndiGo flights as the reason for the extended remand window, and also directed authorities to ensure proper medical care for Gupta, who suffers from a spinal injury, during his transfer.