Delhi court will take up the anticipatory bail plea of Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra on Thursday, as the Goa Police prepare their response to the application.
The two brothers, who operated the Goa nightclub where a catastrophic fire killed 25 people, have approached the Rohini court seeking four weeks of protection from arrest.
Their plea argues that they want to return to India voluntarily and face legal proceedings before the Goa court.
The defence stated that it intends to participate fully in the investigation and questioned why the State should oppose a request aimed at securing its cooperation.
They emphasised that while the tragedy resulted in multiple deaths, they remain willing to submit themselves to due process.
In their application, the brothers claimed limited responsibility for the club’s operations, asserting that they held only a license and operated the establishment on a lease.
They said the primary ownership rested with another party and insisted that they could not undertake even basic repairs without the owner’s approval.
Their submission suggests they believe the burden of liability should not rest solely on them.
However, police investigations indicate that the brothers fled India within hours of the blaze.
A Blue Corner Notice from INTERPOL now stands against them as authorities attempt to track their movements.
Flight to Phuket Raises Red Flags
According to police sources, the two boarded a flight to Phuket on Sunday at approximately 5:30 AM, barely five hours after the deadly fire erupted around midnight.
Their rapid departure appeared highly coordinated, prompting concerns that they were attempting to evade questioning.
A Lookout Circular was issued later that same evening, but by then the brothers had already left the country. This timing gap has raised further questions about the agility of the response mechanisms in cases involving mass casualties.
The inferno, which erupted at the club in Baga, claimed 25 lives, including four tourists and fourteen staff members.
The venue’s structural layout significantly worsened the tragedy. Investigators reported that the building had a narrow entry and exit, which created a fatal bottleneck during the chaos.
Many victims were unable to escape as flames spread rapidly through the enclosed space.
The nightclub, positioned near the Arpora River backwaters and close to one of Goa’s busiest beach corridors, regularly drew large crowds.
On the night of the incident, the density of visitors amplified the scale of the disaster.
With the court now set to hear the Luthra brothers’ plea and police intensifying their search, the case is entering a critical phase.
The upcoming hearing will determine whether the accused will receive temporary protection while the investigation advances.
Also Read: Retired Judges Defend CJI; Condemn Campaign Over Remarks In Rohingya Case
To read more such news, download Bharat Express news apps
