Kumar Bahukhandi
25 people died in the Goa nightclub fire. (Photo-ITG)
Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the main accused in the Romeo Lane fire incident in Goa, fled to Phuket on an IndiGo flight from Mumbai five hours after the incident. A police team was sent to Delhi as soon as the FIR was registered, but the two were not found at their residence, and a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued. Immigration authorities confirmed that the accused left the country on the morning of December 7th. Police have sought the help of Interpol, and co-accused Bharat Kohli has been taken into custody for questioning.
Police tighten noose around absconding accused
The Goa Police, in a statement, said that they are taking action in the investigation of the Birch by Romeo Lane fire incident. As soon as the FIR was registered, a police team was immediately dispatched to Delhi, where raids were conducted at the residences of the accused, Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra. They were not found there, following which a notice was affixed to their residence as per law.
The police said that a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against both of them by the evening of December 7. When Mumbai Immigration was contacted, it was learned that both the accused had departed for Phuket on an IndiGo flight 6E 1073 at 5:30 AM on December 7, while the incident had occurred around midnight the previous night. This clearly indicates that both of them attempted to evade the investigation.
The statement further said that the Goa Police has also contacted the Interpol division of the CBI to apprehend the two accused and ensure their arrest as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the police have taken Bharat Kohli into custody from Delhi and obtained transit remand. He is being brought to Goa for further questioning.Post-mortem examinations of all the deceased have been completed, and the bodies have been handed over to their families.
