In a significant development, the two owners of a Goa nightclub where a devastating fire claimed 25 lives last month have been deported from Thailand and brought back to India. Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the brothers who fled the country hours after the tragedy, were escorted to Delhi on Tuesday, marking a crucial step in the ongoing investigation.
The Deportation and Arrest
Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra were returned to India on an emergency certificate after their passports were suspended by the Indian government. They arrived at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport aboard an IndiGo flight at approximately 2:10 pm. Prior to their departure from Thailand, the brothers were seen at the airport wearing masks and flanked by immigration and security officials.
A special team comprising officials from the CBI and intelligence agencies had flown to Phuket, Thailand, on Saturday to finalize the deportation. The Luthra brothers were initially detained from the Hotel Indigo Phuket Patong and later transferred to an immigration detention centre in Bangkok. The Indian Embassy issued the emergency certificate—a one-way travel document—to facilitate their return.
Flight After the Fire and Legal Proceedings
Investigations reveal that the brothers allegedly fled to Thailand just hours after the deadly fire broke out on December 6, while emergency services were still battling the blaze and rescuing victims. They were detained last week by Thai authorities for overstaying without valid travel documents.
Following their arrival in Delhi, teams from the Delhi Crime Branch and Goa Police were set to produce the duo before the Patiala House court to seek transit remand. Goa DGP Alok Kumar confirmed that the Luthras were expected to be flown to Goa by Tuesday night itself. India and Thailand have an extradition treaty, signed in 2013 and effective since June 2015, which aided the process.
Nightclub Operated Illegally, Multiple Arrests Made
The probe into the fire at the Birch nightclub has uncovered shocking lapses. Goa Police investigations indicate that the establishment had been operating illegally for the past 18 months. It was running without mandatory permissions and on an expired licence, which had not been renewed as required since 2024. Authorities had taken no action against these violations prior to the fatal incident.
The fire erupted around 11:45 pm during an event attended by over 150 tourists. A preliminary investigation by police and the Directorate of Fire Services found that the blaze was triggered when electric firecrackers struck the wooden ceiling, causing the structure to catch fire rapidly.
So far, Goa Police have arrested six individuals in connection with the case. Those arrested include Ajay Gupta (55), a Gurgaon-based partner of the Luthra brothers; Rajiv Modak (49), the chief general manager; Priyanshu Thakur (32), the gate manager; Rajveer Singhania (32), the bar manager; Vivek Singh (27), the general manager; and Delhi resident Bharat Kohli. The return of the prime accused, the Luthra brothers, is expected to shed further light on the chain of responsibility for the tragedy that claimed 25 lives.
