Goa, Dec 11: The owners of the Goa nightclub gutted in Saturday’s deadly fire booked their escape to Thailand less than an hour after learning about the tragedy, officials familiar with the investigation said.
Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra purchased IndiGo tickets to Phuket at 1:17 a.m. on December 7 through an online travel portal, according to officials. “They left the country while rescue efforts were still underway,” a senior Goa Police officer said.
Their departure came at a time when IndiGo’s widespread cancellations and delays had caused chaos across airports, raising suspicion about how the two managed to leave so quickly. Investigators say the timing pointed to an attempt to evade questioning in the hours after the fire at Birch by Romeo Lane, their club in Arpora, where 25 people were killed.
Once police confirmed the brothers had flown out, the Goa Police sought help from the Central Bureau of Investigation to issue an Interpol Blue Corner Notice. The notice led to the duo’s detention in Phuket. “We are now coordinating with Thai authorities to bring them back,” an official said.
The brothers are expected to face charges related to safety violations and criminal negligence once repatriated.
