Goa nightclub fire: Luthra brothers, Gaurav & Saurabh, file for anticipatory bail in Delhi court

The Luthra brothers – Gaurav and Saurabh, owners of Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, have filed a petition for anticipatory bail in Delhi's Rohini Court to evade arrest in connection with a fire at the establishment that claimed 25 lives.

According to news agency ANI, the anticipatory bail is scheduled to be heard before a sessions judge of Rohini court on Wednesday, December 10.

Both brothers had eloped to Phuket, Thailand, within hours of the deadly blaze on December 6.

The Interpol has issued a Blue Corner Notice against them to help locate and provisionally detain them pending extradition proceedings.

Co-owner Ajay Gupta detained

Ajay Gupta, one of the co-owners of Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, was detained by the Goa Police in New Delhi on Tuesday.

As he was brought to Delhi's Anti Extortion and Kidnapping Cell of the Crime Branch, Gupta said he is “only a partner”.

Earlier, a Look Out Circular (LOC) had been issued against Gupta after a Goa police team failed to find him at his Delhi residence.

According to media reports, citing sources, Gupta was questioned by Goa Police and it initiated formal procedures to apprehend him and seek a transit remand. Gupta had reportedly been evading from investigators since the blaze in north Goa's Arpora area.

He is likely to be placed under arrest once Goa Police completes the formalities for transit remand.

Besides, an LOC has been issued against Surinder Kumar Khosla, another owner of the nightclub who is a British citizen, according to police.

Goa Police has already arrested five staff members of the nightclub --” chief general manager Rajiv Modak, general manager Vivek Singh, bar manager Rajiv Singhania, gate manager Riyanshu Thakur and employee Bharat Kohli -- in connection with the tragedy.

Twenty-five persons were killed in the fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora in North Goa around midnight on December 6.