More than a day has passed since the Luthra brothers were detained by Thai immigration authorities, but there is still no clarity on when they will be brought back to India. According to senior Indian government sources, the delay is due to legal procedures under Thai law that must be completed before they can be deported.
Gaurav Luthra, 44, and his younger brother, Saurabh, 40, travelled to Phuket shortly after a devastating fire broke out at their Goa nightclub on December 6, killing 25 people. They reportedly left India at 1.17 am on December 7 barely an hour after learning about the tragedy at their club.
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Officials closely tracking the developments said it could take at least two more days before the brothers return to India. The timeline may even stretch further as the weekend approaches.
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Why Deportation Is Taking Time
Sources explained that once the brothers’ passports were revoked, they could no longer leave Thailand without a fresh travel document. Although the Indian embassy can issue an emergency travel document quickly, it cannot be used until Thailand completes its own internal procedures.
Thai authorities are now moving to cancel the brothers’ visas on the grounds that they misled immigration officers about the purpose of their visit. Tourist visas are issued only for tourism, and officials say the Interpol Blue notice confirmed they were wanted in India.
One official said visa cancellation might require a Thai court order declaring them as people staying in the country illegally. Only after this court declaration can the deportation process formally begin.
Likely Transfer to Bangkok Detention Centre
Officials also indicated that the Luthras may be taken to a detention centre in Bangkok on Friday to complete additional procedures. This step alone could take a couple of days or more, depending on how quickly the paperwork is processed. The upcoming weekend could add further delays.
Detention After Interpol Alert
The Luthra brothers were detained early Thursday morning from Hotel Indigo in Patong Beach following an Interpol Blue notice. Earlier, a Delhi court had rejected their anticipatory bail plea, clearing the way for Indian agencies to pursue legal action and initiate steps for their return.
Officials said both countries are coordinating closely, but the final timeline will depend on how soon Thai authorities complete the legal requirements on their end.