Goa nightclub fire: Why has the deportation of Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra from Thailand been delayed?

Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, brothers and owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane club in Goa, where a massive fire left 25 dead, were on Thursday detained in Phuket, Thailand. However, their deportation has reportedly been delayed. The reason for the delay in the Luthra brothers' deportation is the legal process that needs to be followed under Thai laws, CNN-News18 reported, citing top Indian government sources.

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.

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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