Luthra Brothers Detained in Thailand Following Deadly Goa Nightclub Fire That Killed 25

Goa night club owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra detained in Thailand

Delhi brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, who fled India after a fire at their nightclub in Goa left 25 people dead, have been detained in Thailand. They are seen with their hands tied and holding their passports as they stand next to local police officers in two separate photos.

The restaurateurs from Delhi, who own the Romeo Lane chain with outlets in 22 cities and four countries, fled to Phuket in Thailand hours after a deadly fire ravaged 'Birch by Romeo Lane', their nightclub in north Goa's Arpora village. The brothers face a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and negligence. Indian authorities will now press for their deportation to bring them to trial in Goa. According to sources, a team of Indian officials have flown to Thailand and will bring back the Luthras within 24 hours.

Twenty-five people were killed, and six others were injured after a fire broke out at the Goa nightclub late on Saturday night. That evening, the club was hosting a musical night and about 100 people, most of them tourists, were enjoying the event. Videos reveal a dancer and musicians performing popular Bollywood songs. Electric firecrackers used during the performance likely triggered the fire.

The nightclub became a death trap due to excessive use of flammable decorative materials and flagrant violations of fire safety regulations. No operational fire extinguishers or safety alarms were discovered on the premises. Additionally, the access road was too narrow for fire engines to pass through, forcing them to park approximately 400 meters away. This significantly delayed rescue operations and complicated firefighting efforts.

By the time firefighters extinguished the blaze, 25 individuals had perished. Five victims were tourists, while 20 were staff members. Most casualties were discovered in the basement, with death resulting from toxic smoke inhalation.

This devastating incident shocked the coastal state during its peak tourism season. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant promised severe consequences for those responsible. Four staff members were apprehended, and authorities launched a search for the Luthra brothers. A Goa police team arrived in the national capital, joining Delhi police in the investigation. As authorities conducted raids on their Delhi residences, they discovered the brothers had booked flights shortly after the fire began and departed hours later. Ajay Gupta, their business partner, has been arrested in Delhi.

The Luthra brothers have filed for anticipatory bail in a Delhi court. Their petition claims they are merely licensees, not actual owners of the building housing the club. They have requested four weeks of transit anticipatory bail to avoid immediate arrest upon returning to Delhi. The brothers maintain they traveled to Thailand for business purposes rather than fleeing because of the fire. Their petition also states they were not present at the club when the incident occurred.