Goa nightclub fire: Delhi Court denies interim relief to Luthra brothers

New Delhi: A local court here on Wednesday refused to grant any interim relief sought by Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra, the Goa nightclub owners booked in a criminal case after a fire at the club recently killed 25 people.

The duo approached a Delhi court seeking anticipatory bail. Their counsel told the court that the duo did not "flee" to Thailand as reported widely. The counsel further claimed that the two had gone to Thailand on account of business reasons.It was argued that the two are now reluctant to re-enter India fearing arrest. The two brothers petitioned the court seeking four weeks of transit anticipatory bail so that they are not immediately arrested upon their return to India. Their counsel added that they wished to approach the court in Goa for further relief.

The counsel for the state government told the court that non-bailable warrants have been issued against the two by a competent court in Goa. He further apprised the court that when the Goa police went to the residence of Luthras, their mother and sister claimed that they had no knowledge of their whereabouts.


The state sought time to file a status report and requested the court to adjourn the matter till then. The court questioned the counsel on the maintainability of the transit anticipatory bail plea given the fact that the duo is not even in India. The court, refusing to grant any interim relief, posted the matter for resume hearing on Thursday. The state government has been asked to file its response.