The co-owners of the Goa nightclub where a devastating fire killed 25 people have been deported from Thailand to India, following a week-long manhunt that ended with their detention in Phuket.
Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra, the owners of the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub, landed in New Delhi on Tuesday (16 December) after being deported by Thai authorities. The brothers, who fled the country hours after the deadly fire on December 6, were handed over to Indian officials at Indira Gandhi International Airport and are expected to be taken into custody by Goa Police.
The two had been the subject of an Interpol Blue Corner Notice after they slipped out of India on an early morning flight while emergency crews were still fighting the fire at their club in Arpora. They were tracked down to a resort in Phuket and detained on December 11 for visa violations after the Indian government suspended their passports.
The fire, reportedly triggered by a “fire show” inside the covered venue, killed 25 people, including tourists and staff. Many died from suffocation. Investigations have since uncovered “glaring lapses” in safety protocols. Officials confirmed the club was operating without a valid fire clearance or trade license.
A special team with officers from the Goa Crime Branch and central agencies coordinated the deportation. The brothers were flown from Bangkok on an IndiGo flight, ironically the same airline they used to escape, and arrived in Delhi around 13:45 IST.
“Our government will work to give justice to the 25 people who lost their lives… We will put them behind bars,” Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said, making clear the state’s commitment to a fast-track investigation.
“The deportation comes amid scrutiny over alleged safety violations… The Luthra brothers, despite knowing the restaurant lacked emergency exits, organised the fire show,” a police statement said regarding the negligence charges.
The tragedy has triggered a crackdown on illegal establishments across Goa’s coastal belt right ahead of the peak Christmas and New Year tourist season. The brothers are also facing scrutiny over their finances. Investigators have reportedly flagged over 40 companies linked to them, raising suspicions of money laundering and the use of shell companies.
Once they arrived in Delhi, the brothers will be brought before a magistrate for transit remand. Then they’ll be transported to Goa to face charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder (Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita), which carries a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years.
Also Read / At least 25 dead as massive fire engulfs popular Goa nightclub.
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