‘Witch-hunt’, ‘Saurabh suffers from epilepsy’: 5 things Luthras told Delhi court

Delhi's Rohini Court on Wednesday refused to grant immediate interim relief to Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa's Arpora, where a tragic fire over the weekend claimed 25 lives.

The court sought a response from the Goa government on the transit anticipatory bail filed by the Luthra brothers accused in the nightclub fire.

During the hearing, Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing Saurabh Luthra, highlighted his client's health concerns. The lawyer informed the court that Saurabh suffers from epilepsy and hypertension, ANI news agency reported.

Also read| Goa nightclub fire: No immediate relief from court to Birch owners Luthra brothers, they cry 'witch-hunt'

The lawyer argued that the Luthra brothers cannot be held directly responsible for the tragic incident at the nightclub in Goa. They contended that local managers of the club had already been arrested, implying that operational responsibility lay with them.

Saurabh and Gaurabh Luthra, through their lawyers, claimed that the state is engaging in a targeted “witch-hunt” against them. The brothers emphasised that they do not own the club in question and acted solely as licensees.

Also read| India in touch with Thai authorities to geo-locate Luthras

The brothers have sought anticipatory bail in Delhi to avoid immediate arrest. Their petition requests the court's protection to return to India from Thailand safely so that they can approach the courts in Goa for further relief.

The Luthra brothers left for Thailand within five hours of the fire. In his plea Saurabh said, he had traveled abroad for a business meeting a day before the incident occurred, India today reported.

Indian agencies are in touch with the Thai authorities to geo-locate Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra in Thailand's Phuket and get them deported based on an arrest warrant as soon as possible instead of going through the cumbersome extradition process, HT earlier reported, citing people familiar with the development.

Officials are positive on tracing Luthras, given the friendly relations between Indian and Thai agencies in criminal matters. Officials feel the Luthra brothers will be brought back soon, considering several fugitives have been brought from Bangkok in the past decade.

Source: HindustanTimes
Related Posts: Delhi court grants interim bail to activist Umar Khalid to attend sister’s wedding Man wanted in Meerut murder case arrested after encounter in Delhi’s Rohini Tamil Nadu moves Supreme Court against President’s refusal to grant assent to anti-NEET Bill Supreme Court grants interim bail to Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad Rajasthan Court Grants Six-Month Interim Bail To Asaram Bapu On Medical Ground Pakistan court extends interim bail of Imran Khan Supreme Court to announce interim order today Why Tejashwi Yadav's sister Rohini Acharya disowned family after Bihar drubbing FIR registered after labourer dies falling into open sewer in Rohini The Story Behind Rohini Acharya's Wedding