Delhi court delivered a decisive blow to fugitive nightclub owners Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra on Wednesday, refusing their request for interim protection from arrest in the catastrophic Goa nightclub fire case.
The brothers, accused in the Birch by Romeo Lane inferno that killed 25 people, had sought transit anticipatory bail from the Rohini court, arguing they needed protection to return and face proceedings.
The court rejected the plea after prosecutors asserted they had already fled the country and were evading the law.
The Luthra brothers remain untraceable, deepening suspicions that they orchestrated a swift and calculated escape.
Investigators say the duo executed a ‘well-planned’ getaway, boarding an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Phuket around 5.30 AM, barely five hours after flames engulfed the club.
A Lookout Circular was issued only later that evening, long after the brothers had slipped out of Indian jurisdiction.
With growing international attention, authorities have escalated efforts to locate the pair.
A Blue Corner Notice issued through Interpol has mobilised global tracking mechanisms, while teams in India and overseas monitor leads on their possible movement across Southeast Asia.
Police sources say their early-morning departure, absence of digital traces, and rapid cross-border travel point to premeditated evasion.
Meanwhile, the investigation continues to widen.
On Tuesday, the Goa Police detained Ajay Gupta, one of the four co-owners of the establishment. His custody brings the total arrests to six, including Chief General Manager Rajiv Modak, General Manager Vivek Singh, Bar Manager Rajiv Singhania, Gate Manager Riyanshu Thakur, and staffer Bharat Kohli.
Officers also visited the Luthra residences in Delhi, pasting notices on their doors to formalise the summons process.
Deadly Blaze Claims 25 Lives
The fire, which ripped through the nightclub located near the Arpora River backwaters, caused one of Goa’s deadliest recreational tragedies in recent years.
Among the 25 fatalities were four tourists and 14 staff members. Seven bodies await formal identification, while six survivors remain hospitalised with severe injuries.
Preliminary findings highlight structural and safety lapses, particularly the club’s narrow entry and exit passages, which left patrons trapped as flames and smoke spread rapidly.
The blaze erupted shortly after midnight in the bustling Baga belt, a nightlife hotspot that attracts thousands every week owing to its proximity to one of Goa’s most popular beaches.
As investigators reconstruct the final moments before the tragedy, the legal net continues to close around those responsible, with the Luthra brothers now at the centre of an intensifying international chase.
Also Read: Delhi Court Moves On Luthra Brothers’ Bail Bid After Goa Inferno
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