Goa – A joint team comprising the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Goa Police has arrived in Bangkok, Thailand, and expects to secure custody of the fugitive Luthra brothers by Tuesday. Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra fled to Phuket immediately after a devastating fire at their illegal nightclub on December 5 claimed 25 lives, triggering one of Goa’s deadliest tragedies in recent years.
Detention and Deportation Process Underway
The Luthra brothers were detained by the Royal Thai Police from their Phuket hotel on December 11 and subsequently transferred to a detention center in Bangkok. According to a Goa government official familiar with the investigation, the deportation process is currently underway with close coordination between Indian authorities and Thai law enforcement agencies.
“We hope to have custody of the brothers at least by Tuesday. Their deportation process is underway and we are in close coordination with the CBI and the Thai authorities to secure their custody after the completion of deportation formalities,” stated a Goa Police official. The Luthra brothers are expected to be brought back to India first to Delhi, and then transported to Goa where they will face serious criminal charges.
Charges Against the Luthra Brothers
Upon their return to India, the Luthra brothers will face charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder in connection with the nightclub fire that killed 25 people. The Fire Information Report (FIR), filed last Sunday, charges them under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), Sections 125(a) and (b) (endangering life and personal safety), and Section 287 (negligent conduct with fire or combustible matter).
The severity of these charges reflects the catastrophic nature of the incident and the alleged negligence that led to the loss of innocent lives at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora.
Multiple Arrests in Nightclub Fire Investigation
Goa Police have made significant progress in the investigation, arresting six individuals so far. Five of these arrests include managerial staff members who were responsible for the nightclub’s operations. The sixth person arrested is Ajay Gupta, identified as a business partner of the Luthra brothers who co-ran the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub.
Authorities are currently searching for a seventh suspect, Surinder Kumar Khosla, the British property owner who signed a 2023 lease agreement with Being GS Hospitality Goa Arpora LLP—the firm under which the club operated. The Luthra brothers and Gupta are listed as partners in this business entity. Khosla is believed to be outside the country, complicating efforts to bring him to justice.
Illegal Operations and Safety Violations
Investigations have revealed that the nightclub operated without proper authorization and in flagrant violation of safety regulations. The property lacked essential documentation including a construction license, occupancy certificate, and fire department No Objection Certificate (NOC). Moreover, the establishment was facing a demolition notice at the time of the tragic incident, highlighting the authorities’ prior awareness of the violations.
These glaring safety oversights created a death trap for patrons and staff, ultimately resulting in the devastating loss of life when fire engulfed the premises.
Victims and Circumstances of the Tragedy
Among the 25 victims were 20 basement kitchen staff members who became trapped with no escape route after flames engulfed the floor above them. The tragedy also claimed the lives of four members of a Delhi family—three sisters and the husband of one of them. Medical reports indicate that 23 of the 25 victims succumbed to suffocation rather than burn injuries, underscoring the lack of adequate ventilation and emergency exits.
Timeline of the Luthra Brothers’ Escape
The sequence of events surrounding the Luthra brothers’ flight reveals a calculated attempt to evade justice. Authorities reported that the fire began around 11:45 PM on December 5. Remarkably, the Luthra brothers booked tickets to Thailand at 1:17 AM—less than two hours after the fire started—and flew out of India at 5:30 AM. A lookout notice was issued 24 hours later, but by then, the brothers had already left the country.
Legal Proceedings and Government Actions
The Ministry of External Affairs cancelled the Luthra brothers’ passports on Tuesday at Goa Police’s request, effectively preventing their legal re-entry into other countries. An Interpol Blue Corner notice was subsequently issued to track their movements and facilitate their detention.
Police conducted raids at the Luthra brothers’ Delhi residences that Sunday, but they had already fled. A Delhi court rejected their anticipatory bail plea, in which they claimed fear of being “lynched” in Goa amid an ongoing crackdown on illegal bars and clubs.
Wider Crackdown on Illegal Establishments
In response to this tragedy, state authorities have intensified enforcement actions against establishments violating safety norms. Two nightclubs have been sealed among four establishments found to be operating in violation of safety regulations. This crackdown represents a broader effort to prevent similar tragedies and ensure compliance with safety standards across Goa’s hospitality sector.
As the deportation of the Luthra brothers nears completion, victims’ families await justice for their lost loved ones. The case has brought national attention to the importance of strict enforcement of safety regulations and the severe consequences of negligence in public establishments.
