Delhi Airport, December 16, 2025 – Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, co-owners of the ill-fated 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub in Arpora, Goa, arrived at Delhi Airport yesterday under heavy security, marking the end of a ten-day saga that began with a deadly fire and a subsequent international manhunt. The brothers were promptly taken into custody by a team of Goa Police officials immediately after their arrival on an Indigo flight from Bangkok.
The arrest follows the tragic December 6 fire at their Goa-based nightclub that claimed the lives of 25 people and injured several others. The incident, which occurred during a musical event attended by approximately 100 people, is believed to have been triggered by electric firecrackers and exacerbated by flammable décor and the absence of functional fire extinguishers.
Within hours of the blaze, while firefighters were still battling the inferno, the Luthra brothers fled to Phuket, Thailand. This sparked public outrage and prompted swift action from Indian authorities. The Ministry of External Affairs cancelled their passports, and an Interpol Blue Corner Notice was issued to track their whereabouts.
Thai authorities detained the Luthra brothers in Phuket on December 11, following a request from the Indian government. The Indian mission in Thailand submitted a detailed dossier alleging the brothers' involvement in the deaths and formally requested their deportation.
Back in Delhi, a court had rejected the brothers' plea for transit anticipatory bail, paving the way for their deportation and subsequent arrest. A Delhi court termed the allegations against the brothers as "prima facie grave and serious" and criticized their conduct, noting that their departure immediately after the tragedy was a clear attempt to "evade the legal process".
Upon arrival in Delhi, the Luthra brothers were produced before a Delhi court, which granted the Goa Police a two-day transit remand. This allows the Goa Police to take the brothers to Goa for further investigation and questioning.
The Luthra brothers face charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and negligence related to the nightclub fire. Investigators allege that the nightclub was operating in violation of mandatory fire safety norms, contributing to the scale of the tragedy.
The swift deportation of the Luthra brothers has been hailed as a success of international cooperation between Indian and Thai law enforcement agencies. The case has also brought into sharp focus the issue of fire safety compliance in public spaces, particularly in popular tourist destinations like Goa. The Bombay High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the systemic failures exposed by the Goa nightclub fire, converting a writ petition into a public interest litigation and asking the State to come up with measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the families of the victims are seeking justice and accountability. The Luthra brothers are expected to be produced before a judicial magistrate first class in Mapusa, Goa, where the Anjuna police will seek their custody for investigation. Meanwhile, five other individuals, including managerial staff of the nightclub, have already been arrested in connection with the case, and the police are searching for a seventh accused.
