Thai authorities are working closely with their Indian counterparts to deport Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, the co-owners of the Goa-based 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub, where a devastating fire on December 6, 2025, claimed the lives of 25 people. The Luthra brothers fled to Phuket, Thailand, within hours of the incident but were detained by Thai authorities five days later.
Following the tragedy, an Interpol Blue Corner Notice was issued against the Luthra brothers at the request of the Goa Police. Their passports were subsequently suspended by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), rendering them illegal residents in Thailand. The brothers were then moved to Bangkok's Immigration Division Centre.
The Indian Embassy in Bangkok is coordinating with Thai authorities to expedite the deportation process. Thai authorities are acting under local laws to send the Luthra brothers back to India. According to officials, the deportation is being treated as a high-priority operation, with the MEA, CBI, and Goa Police jointly coordinating the effort.
Before being handed over to Indian officials, the Luthra brothers will undergo mandatory medical examinations. The Indian Embassy will then issue Emergency Travel Certificates to allow them to return to India. A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team will take custody of the brothers upon their arrival in India. The Goa Police have confirmed that all required legal procedures for the takeover have been completed.
A Delhi court denied the Luthra brothers pre-arrest bail, paving the way for their arrest upon their arrival in India. During the hearing, the brothers' lawyer claimed that they were only licensees and not the actual owners of the nightclub. They also expressed concerns about potential death threats and lynching if they returned to Goa. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has stated that the government is committed to ensuring justice for the victims and is working closely with central agencies to ensure a swift and lawful transfer of the accused.
Goa police said that while the accused claimed they left the country for a pre-planned meeting, they booked tickets to Thailand just hours after the fire. Officials stated that the brothers booked their flight tickets through a travel portal at 1:17 a.m. on December 7, a little over an hour after learning about the fire and left the country by 5:30 a.m.
Five managers and staff members have already been arrested by Goa Police in connection with the fire. The nightclub was located in Arpora, approximately 25km from Panaji. The fire reportedly broke out around midnight, resulting in the deaths of 25 people, including staff members and tourists, most of whom died due to suffocation. Staff members were trapped in the kitchen and basement area of the club. Investigations suggest the fire started after electric fireworks ignited the wooden ceiling, causing it to spread rapidly.
