Luthras used forged papers for Goa club permit: Police

Delhi-based entrepreneurs Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra allegedly applied for permission to open their club in Goa's Arpora using a forged copy of a land agreement, police said on Friday, adding that the investigators will confront the brothers about this revelation when they receive custody likely early next week.

- Gerard de Souza

The Luthras, who fled to Phuket within hours after a blaze ripped through their club in Goa and killed 25 people, were detained by local authorities in Thailand and a joint investigation team will soon bring the accused back to India, chief minister Pramod Sawant had said on Thursday.

His comments came after the external affairs ministry began considering the Goa government's request to revoke the passports of the two brothers, after receiving a communication from the state government.

Twenty-five people, including four from a Delhi family, were killed and six injured after a massive fire tore through their nightclub - Birch by Romeo Lane - in the coastal village of Arpora in north Goa around 11.45pm on Saturday. Authorities have said that even as the fire was gutting the structure, the two brothers booked tickets to Thailand at 1.17am on Sunday and flew out at 5.30am the same day. A lookout notice against them was issued 24 hours later.