Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, wanted in the Goa nightclub fire that killed 25 people, have been detained in Thailand after their passports were suspended, paving the way for deportation.
Goa nightclub fire case: First pictures of owners Luthra brothers detained in Phuket. Pictures Credit: UNI
In a major breakthrough in the Goa nightclub fire case that killed 25 people, ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ owners Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra have been detained in Thailand’s Phuket and are expected to be sent back to India, news agency UNI reported on Thursday. Their detention comes less than 24 hours after the Ministry of External Affairs suspended their passports.
The brothers had left India within hours of the fire that broke out at their Arpora nightclub around midnight on December 6. The blaze, which ripped through the venue during a late-night music event, exposed glaring safety lapses and pushed Goa’s nightlife sector under sharp scrutiny.
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The brothers’ passports were suspended under Section 10A of the Passports Act, 1967, a provision that allows the government or an authorised officer to act in criminal matters.
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Investigators say the siblings logged into a travel app at 1:17 am on December 7, while fire personnel were still battling the flames. They boarded a Delhi–Phuket IndiGo flight at 5:30 am the same morning, placing themselves outside Indian jurisdiction.
A Blue Corner Notice was later issued by Interpol after the Goa Police booked them for fleeing “while authorities were battling the fire and rescuing trapped guests”. Thai authorities detained them based on the notice. Notably, India and Thailand operate under a 2013 Extradition Treaty, giving New Delhi a clear legal route to seek their deportation.
Before their detention became public earlier today, the Luthras had approached a Delhi court seeking four weeks of transit anticipatory bail. The duo had argued that they were merely licence holders and not the building’s owners. They also claimed that their Thailand visit was for a business meeting, alleging they were not evading investigators.
However, the court refused to grant interim protection, noting concerns over maintainability since the applicants were “not presently within the territorial jurisdiction”. The State opposed their plea, stating the brothers had deliberately avoided the investigation and left the country “soon after the tragedy”.
The case is due to be heard again today.
Goa nightclub fire: Probe shows Luthra brothers booked tickets while flames raged
Preliminary findings point to various safety failures at the nightclub. Officials found no functional fire extinguishers or alarm systems, extensive flammable décor, and a narrow access route that forced fire engines to halt nearly 400 metres away.
The fire is suspected to have been triggered by electric firecrackers used during the performance. Most of the 25 victims, including five tourists and 20 staff members, were discovered in the basement, having succumbed to toxic smoke inhalation.
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