Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra, the owners of the Goa-based nightclub Birch by Romeo Lane, where a devastating fire claimed 25 lives earlier this month, have been deported to India from Thailand, officials confirmed on Monday.
The brothers, both Delhi-based entrepreneurs, were detained last week by Thai authorities in Phuket following a request from Indian law enforcement agencies. Their deportation comes after a Delhi court denied them anticipatory bail, paving the way for their return to face legal proceedings in India.
According to officials, the Luthra brothers allegedly fled India within hours of the December 6 fire at their nightclub in Arpora, North Goa. Investigators said the fire broke out around 11:45 pm, and the brothers booked tickets to Thailand at 1:17 am while the blaze was still unfolding. They departed India at approximately 5:30 am the same day.
Following their departure, the Ministry of External Affairs cancelled their passports, and the Indian Embassy issued emergency travel certificates to facilitate their deportation. A Blue Notice was also issued through Interpol to trace their location abroad.
The Goa Police have registered a case against the brothers under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, endangering life and personal safety, and negligent conduct involving fire or combustible materials.
Authorities stated that the brothers failed to cooperate with investigators and allegedly misled officials during the early stages of the probe. Their legal counsel, however, has maintained that the duo was willing to participate in the investigation.
So far, six other individuals, including five managerial staff members and business partner Ajay Gupta, have been named in the case. Police are also searching for a seventh accused, Surinder Kumar Khosla, a British national who owns the property leased to the firm operating the nightclub and is believed to be outside India.
The Luthra brothers are expected to be produced before a Delhi court on Tuesday, where the Goa Police will seek transit remand to take them into custody for further investigation in the nightclub fire case.
