The owners of a popular Goa nightclub, where a devastating fire claimed 25 lives earlier this month, have been deported from Thailand and are en route to India to face legal action. Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, the co-owners of 'Birch by Romeo Lane' in North Goa's Arpora village, were detained in Thailand last week and are being escorted back to Delhi by Indian officials.
The Arrest and Deportation from Thailand
Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra were apprehended from a hotel in Patong, Thailand, following a formal request from Indian law enforcement agencies. The process for their deportation was expedited, and they were subsequently moved to an immigration detention facility in Bangkok. The Indian Embassy in Bangkok played a crucial role by issuing emergency certificates for their one-way travel to India after their passports were impounded by authorities.
The brothers are scheduled to land at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on the afternoon of Tuesday, December 16, 2025. A team from the Goa Police is already stationed in the national capital to take them into custody immediately upon arrival.
Timeline of the Tragedy and Escape
The fatal incident occurred on the night of December 6, 2025, at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, North Goa. According to the fire department's report, the control room received information about the blaze at 11:45 PM. Investigators state that the Luthra brothers were attending a wedding in Delhi when they were informed about the fire by a staff member.
In a move that has drawn severe criticism, the brothers booked flight tickets to Phuket, Thailand, at 1:17 AM on December 7—within 90 minutes of the fire breaking out. They boarded a flight from Delhi at 5:30 AM the same day, just hours after the tragedy that killed 25 people.
Next Steps: Legal Process and Interrogation
Upon landing in Delhi, the Luthra brothers are likely to be produced before a local court. The Goa Police will seek transit remand to legally transport them to Goa for a detailed investigation. Sources indicate they could be taken to Goa by late evening or night on December 16.
The legal net had tightened around the duo soon after their departure from India. The Bureau of Immigration issued a Lookout Circular (LOC) against them at the request of the Goa Police. Subsequently, a Blue Corner Notice was issued through Interpol, and the Ministry of External Affairs impounded their passports, paving the way for their detention abroad.
The focus will now shift to a thorough interrogation in Goa, where police will probe their alleged negligence, the circumstances that led to the fire, and their decision to flee the country immediately after the incident. The case has drawn national attention, highlighting issues of safety compliance and accountability in commercial establishments.
