In a significant breakthrough, the Goa Police on Tuesday took into custody the two main accused in the devastating Goa nightclub fire that claimed 25 lives. Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra were arrested at the Delhi airport after being deported from Thailand, where they had fled hours after the tragedy.
From Thailand Deportation to Delhi Arrest
The Luthra brothers landed at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport in the afternoon of December 17, 2025, under police escort. A Goa Police team was present to immediately take them into custody. The police subsequently obtained a transit remand from a Delhi court, paving the way for their transfer to Goa. Officials stated the accused would be flown to Goa on Wednesday morning.
Their journey back to India followed a coordinated international effort. After fleeing to Thailand's Phuket on December 7, the brothers were detained in Patong last week based on a request from Indian authorities. They were later moved to an immigration facility in Bangkok. The Indian Embassy issued emergency certificates for their travel after the Ministry of External Affairs impounded their passports.
'Ultimate Control' Over Club Operations: Police Tell Court
In its application for transit remand, the Goa Police presented a damning case against the siblings. The police informed the court that Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra were the principal owners and partners of 'Birch' by Romeo Lane in Arpora, Goa.
The police assertion was clear: the brothers had "ultimate control over the operation, safety arrangement, permissions and events conducted at the premises." This statement formed the core of the legal argument for their direct culpability in the incident.
Judicial Magistrate First Class Twinkle Chawla of the Patiala House Courts, in her order granting the remand, noted the police's averment that there was sufficient evidence of the accused persons' involvement given their controlling stake and responsibility.
A Timeline of Escape and Pursuit
The sequence of events reveals a hurried escape. The fire broke out at the nightclub around midnight on December 6, 2025. The fire control room received the alert at 11:45 PM. Investigators state that the Luthra brothers, who were in Delhi for a wedding that night, were informed about the blaze by a staff member.
Instead of rushing to the scene, they booked flight tickets to Phuket at 1:17 AM on December 7 and boarded a 5:30 AM flight, leaving the country within hours of the disaster. Following their departure, the Goa Police swiftly initiated legal measures.
A Lookout Circular (LOC) was issued by the Bureau of Immigration to prevent their return. This was followed by a Blue Corner Notice through Interpol and the impounding of their passports by the MEA, effectively stranding them abroad and leading to their eventual detention and deportation.
The case now moves to Goa, where the brothers will face formal charges and a judicial process for one of the state's deadliest fire tragedies in recent years.
