Brothers detained in Thailand after India fire kills 25

Thailand’s prime minister said two brothers were detained in Thailand after the nightclub fire in Goa that killed 25 people, identifying them as co-owners of the venue.

A local court in Delhi earlier Thursday rejected the brothers’ request for interim protection from arrest.

Their lawyers said at that hearing that Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra were on a business trip in Thailand and were the licensees, not the owners, of the nightclub.

Fire engulfed Birch by Romeo ‌Lane nightclub in Arpora around midnight on Saturday.

“We detained them in Thailand today. We will bring them to Goa shortly,” Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told reporters in the state capital Panaji on Thursday.

Lawyer Tanvir Ahmed Mir said the detentions were not immediately confirmed but told Reuters on Thursday that the brothers were facing a “vengeful government”.

He said they went to Thailand because they were in the process of setting up a restaurant in Phuket.

India has arrested six more people in the case so far, including five employees of the organisation.

The brothers’ attorney said at Thursday’s hearing that staff oversaw the day-to-day operation of the nightclub and that the Luthras could not be held guilty.

Indian authorities have offered compensation to the families of the victims, including at least four tourists and 14 club staff.

Goa, a small coastal state, is a popular tourist destination, especially among foreigners, for its beaches and rugged landscapes.

According to government data, around 5.5 million tourists visited Goa in the first half of the year, including 271,000 from abroad.