Goa nightclub fire: When will Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra be brought back to India from Thailand?

Bangkok: Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, brothers and owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane club in Goa where a massive fire claimed 25 lives, are currently being held at a detention centre in Thailand’s capital Bangkok after being brought from Phuket, where they were detained on Thursday. Their deportation was delayed due to legal procedures that need to be followed under Thai law, CNN-News18 reported, citing top Indian government sources. 

As per the latest update, the deportation process is now underway, with the Goa Police in continuous coordination with central agencies. The Luthra brothers were detained at a resort in Phuket after India suspended their passports, reports said on Friday.

Barely five hours after the tragic fire incident, the Luthra brothers had fled India on an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Phuket. The Indian government later issued an Interpol Blue Notice and a Look-Out Circular against the duo.

Thai authorities have confirmed that they are coordinating formalities with an Indian law enforcement team for the duo’s return under the extradition treaty between India and Thailand, which has been in effect since 2015. Thai officials said that due process will be followed as coordination between the two countries continues and that they are working with Indian counterparts to ensure a lawful and prompt handover.

Meanwhile, the Embassy of India in Bangkok is also actively coordinating with Thai authorities in the case.

Why has Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra's deportation from Thailand been delayed?

The Indian authorities have suspended the passports of the duo. As a result, an emergency travel document is required for them to leave Thailand, sources told CNN-News18. Even as the Indian embassy may expedite the emergency travel document, other legal processes still need to be completed.

Thai authorities are moving to cancel the visas of the Luthra brothers as they allegedly hid their actual intentions of visiting the country from immigration officials. The Blue Notice confirmed that the duo were fugitives from India, and tourist visas are permitted only for genuine tourism, sources said.

“Visa cancellation could entail a Thai court order declaring them as individuals who are in Thailand illegally. Only this would pave the way for deportation," an official told CNN-News18.

According to sources, the Luthra brothers could be brought to a detention centre in Bangkok on Friday so that other legal procedures are completed. “This could take 2 days or more, and we also have to factor in the weekend that falls within that timeline," an official added.

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