Two Delhi-based brothers, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, who fled India following a devastating fire at their nightclub in Goa that claimed 25 lives, have been detained in Thailand. Photographs show the brothers with their hands tied, holding their passports while standing beside local police officers in separate images.
The restaurateurs, owners of the Romeo Lane chain with outlets across 22 cities and four countries, escaped to Phuket, Thailand, just hours after the blaze destroyed their venue, 'Birch by Romeo Lane', located in Arpora village, north Goa. They are facing charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and negligence. Indian authorities are now pushing for their deportation to face trial in Goa. Sources indicate that a team of Indian officials has travelled to Thailand and is expected to repatriate the Luthras within 24 hours.
The fire claimed 25 lives and injured six others, erupting late on Saturday night at the nightclub. The venue was hosting a lively musical event that evening, with around 100 attendees—mostly tourists—enjoying the atmosphere. Videos captured a dancer and musicians performing to popular Bollywood hits. Electric firecrackers deployed during the show are believed to have sparked the inferno.
The venue became a deadly trap due to extensive use of flammable materials in the decorations and blatant disregard for fire safety regulations. Investigators found no operational fire extinguishers or safety alarms on site. Additionally, the narrow access road prevented fire engines from reaching the building directly, forcing them to park approximately 400 metres away. This significantly hindered rescue efforts and complicated firefighting operations.
By the time the fire was extinguished, 25 individuals had perished. Among the victims, five were tourists, while 20 were staff members. Most were discovered in the basement, having succumbed to toxic smoke inhalation.
Also Read: Goa nightclub fire: Luthras’ passports may be revoked
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the coastal state amid the peak tourist season. Goa's Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has vowed stringent action. Four staff members were promptly arrested, triggering a manhunt for the Luthra brothers. A Goa police team travelled to Delhi, where local authorities assisted in the search. Raids on the brothers' Delhi residences revealed they had booked and boarded flights shortly after the fire started. Their business partner, Ajay Gupta, has been arrested in Delhi.
The Luthra brothers have filed a petition in a Delhi court seeking anticipatory bail. In their application, they assert that they are merely licensees and not the actual owners of the building housing the club. They are requesting four weeks of anticipatory transit bail to avoid immediate arrest upon returning to Delhi. The brothers maintain that their trip to Thailand was for a scheduled business meeting and not an attempt to flee in response to the fire. They further state in the petition that they were not present at the venue during the incident.
Also Read: Goa Nightclub Fire: Luthra brothers' midnight escape plan
Follow us
