The owners of a popular Goa nightclub, where a devastating fire killed 25 people earlier this month, have been arrested and brought back to India after a dramatic international chase. Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, the brothers who owned the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, were deported from Thailand and taken into custody by Goa Police.
International Manhunt Ends with Deportation
The Luthra brothers had fled India on December 7, just hours after the deadly fire erupted at their establishment. They were located staying at the Indigo Hotel in Phuket, Thailand. Following a lookout notice issued against them, the Ministry of External Affairs suspended their passports. A special police team from Goa traveled to Phuket to coordinate with Thai authorities, who had detained the duo for staying illegally in the country.
On Tuesday, the brothers were deported to India under escort. At Bangkok airport, they were seen masked and surrounded by officials before being seated at the rear of the aircraft under tight security. They landed at Delhi's IGI Airport, where immigration authorities handed them over to the waiting Goa Police team.
Court Proceedings and Journey to Goa
The brothers were produced before Delhi's Patiala House Court around 6:45 pm on Tuesday. The Goa Police sought a three-day transit remand to bring them to Goa. The Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) granted a two-day transit remand instead. After a mandatory medical examination, the brothers were taken back to the airport late Tuesday night to be flown to Goa.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Nilesh Rane stated they were expected to arrive in Goa around 11 am on Wednesday. They will be produced before a judicial magistrate in Mapusa, Goa, as the investigation into the tragic incident continues. The police had earlier registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the Luthra brothers under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The Fatal Fire and Ongoing Investigation
The fire broke out at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub around 11:45 pm on December 6. Preliminary investigations suggest the blaze started after electric firecrackers struck the wooden ceiling of the club. At the time, over 150 tourists were attending an event at the venue. The inferno claimed 25 lives, making it one of Goa's worst nightclub tragedies.
The investigation has widened beyond the owners. So far, several associates linked to the nightclub's operations have been arrested. These include Gurgaon resident Ajay Gupta, Delhi-based individuals Rajiv Modak and Priyanshu Thakur, and Uttar Pradesh natives Rajveer Singhania, Vivek Singh, and Bharat Kohli. Local courts had also rejected the Luthra brothers' anticipatory transit bail applications last week, paving the way for their arrest upon return to Indian soil.
The case highlights serious lapses in safety protocols and has triggered a major probe into the circumstances that led to the catastrophic loss of life.
