India, Dec. 11 -- The hunt for accountability in the devastating North Goa nightclub fire last weekend - which claimed 25 lives - has turned into a high-stakes face-off between the Goa Police and the Luthra brothers - Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra - co-owners of Birch by Romeo Lane where the deadly blaze broke out.

Gaurav (44) and 40-year old Saurabh Luthra, who fled India hours after the fire, were detained in Thailand, officials confirmed on Thursday, hours after which a Delhi court rejected their transit anticipatory bail pleas.

The Goa government has maintained a firm stance: the brothers will be brought back at the earliest to face the full force of the law.

In court, the state's lawyer underscored the government's position with a poi...