Indian authorities have formally arrested Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, the proprietors of a Goa nightclub where a catastrophic fire claimed 25 lives earlier this month. The brothers were taken into custody at New Delhi’s international airport on Tuesday following their deportation from Thailand.
The dramatic extradition concludes an international manhunt that began after the December 6th tragedy at ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub in North Goa. The siblings had fled to Phuket, Thailand, within hours of the devastating blaze that also left numerous patrons and staff members critically injured.
Thai law enforcement officials detained the brothers at a Phuket resort after Indian authorities initiated passport suspension procedures and formally requested cooperation under the bilateral extradition treaty. The 2015 agreement between India and Thailand facilitated the swift transfer, with Thai officials confirming all legal protocols were meticulously followed throughout the deportation process.
According to criminal charges filed by Goa Police on December 7th, the Luthra brothers organized a fire performance at their establishment without implementing essential safety measures. The First Information Report indicates they knowingly operated without emergency exits on both ground and deck levels while failing to provide basic fire safety equipment during the pyrotechnic display.
The accused are scheduled to appear before Delhi’s Patiala House court before being transferred to Goa to face charges related to the fatal incident that predominantly affected tourists and employees. An Indian law enforcement team coordinated international logistics to ensure the brothers’ return, demonstrating strengthened judicial cooperation between the two nations.