Goa nightclub fire: Luthra brothers detained in Thailand, to be deported soon; photos show siblings handcuffed

NEW DELHI: Saurav Luthra and his brother Gaurav, owners of the Goa nightclub ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ linked to the fire that killed 25 people on Saturday night, have been detained in Thailand, and authorities have initiated the process to deport them to India to face trial.Meanwhile, the MEA is examining the Goa government’s request to cancel the brothers’ passports. The Regional Passport Office in Delhi has also asked for an explanation within seven days on why their passports should not be impounded. The Delhi-based brothers reportedly flew to Phuket on IndiGo flight 6E1073 at 5:30 am on Sunday, just hours after the fire. On Wednesday, the Luthras approached a Delhi court seeking four weeks of transit anticipatory bail, claiming they are on a business trip in Thailand.

The Rohini district and sessions court declined interim relief and listed the case for further hearing on Thursday. In their plea, the Luthras claimed they intend to return to India to approach the appropriate court in Goa and said they were being unfairly targeted. They also requested that Goa Police suspend the lookout circular issued against them. “On Dec 6, 2025, the applicants travelled to Thailand for a business meeting related to their professional engagements and potential restaurant ventures,” the plea stated.

Goa Police, however, noted that the brothers booked their Thailand tickets online at 1:17 am on December 7, while the police and fire services were still managing the blaze and rescuing victims. The Luthras argued that arresting them upon their return would serve no purpose, as custodial interrogation is not required. Their plea emphasized that they operate over 27 restaurants, all managed by operational managers, and that the brothers had “no personal knowledge about the fire.”