Delhi Airport: Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, owners of the ill-fated Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, Goa, were arrested by the Goa Police upon their arrival at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. The brothers were deported from Thailand, where they had fled following a devastating fire at their nightclub on December 6 that resulted in the deaths of 25 people.
A video clip shared by the ANI news agency showed the Luthra brothers being escorted out of the Delhi airport by authorities. A special team of the Goa Police was present at the airport to take custody of the accused. The arrest occurred after the brothers landed on an IndiGo flight at approximately 1:45 PM.
The Luthra brothers are the primary suspects in the case concerning the fire at their nightclub. The FIR states that the brothers organized a fire show at the nightclub without proper precautions, fire safety equipment, or permissions. The ensuing blaze led to the deaths of 25 individuals, including tourists and staff, and caused serious injuries to many others.
Following the incident, the Luthra brothers had left India for Phuket, Thailand, a mere 90 minutes after the fire. After India requested the suspension of their passports, Thai authorities detained them at a resort in Phuket.
The deportation process commenced over the weekend after a Delhi court rejected the brothers' anticipatory bail request. An Interpol Blue Corner Notice had been issued after they fled the country.
The brothers will be produced before the Patiala House Court in New Delhi, after which the Goa Police will take them to Goa for further legal proceedings. The Goa Police had registered a criminal case on December 7 at the Arpora-Anjuna Police Station in North Goa under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Thai officials affirmed that due process was followed, citing an extradition treaty between India and Thailand that has been in effect since 2015. Goa Police have already arrested five managers and staff members in connection with the case, and further arrests may follow as the investigation progresses.
