Process underway to deport Luthra brothers, say officials

The process to deport fugitive brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, who fled to Thailand hours after a blaze ripped through their nightclub, claiming 25 lives, has begun and they are expected to be brought back to India by Sunday, officials familiar with the development said on Saturday.

- HT Correspondent

The passport of the two businessmen was impounded by the ministry of external affairs on Tuesday, following a request from the Goa Police, and an Interpol Blue Corner notice was issued against them on Tuesday. A local court in Delhi had also rejected their anticipatory bail on Friday.

Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant told reporters on Thursday that a joint team of the Goa Police and the Central Bureau of Investigation was headed to Thailand to bring the brothers to Goa, via Delhi, to face the probe.

News agency ANI, quoting unnamed Thai officials, reported that "the process of deportation is now underway, the final confirmation on the date, time and specific flight details remains pending".