National News
Goa Nightclub Fire: Luthra Brothers Deported from Thailand to Face Charges in India
Goa nightclub owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra have been deported from Thailand to India to face charges after a fire at their club killed 25 people in North Goa.
Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of the Goa nightclub where a devastating fire claimed 25 lives, have been deported to India from Thailand. The brothers, who co-owned Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora, North Goa, boarded a flight to India after being detained by Thai authorities in Phuket.
The Luthras had left India for Thailand shortly after the December 6 fire incident. An Interpol Blue Corner Notice was later issued against them. At the time of the incident, they were reportedly attending a wedding in Delhi.
Upon arrival in India, officials from central agencies are expected to produce Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra before the Patiala House Court in New Delhi. Following court proceedings, the Goa Police will seek their transit remand to take them to Goa for further investigation.
The brothers are accused of operating the nightclub without mandatory safety clearances. Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire broke out during a fire show conducted inside the premises, allegedly without adequate safety measures.
The Goa government has constituted a special legal team to ensure effective prosecution of the case. Police have registered offences under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which carries a maximum punishment of up to 10 years’ imprisonment. Investigators are collecting evidence related to all alleged violations to prepare a comprehensive charge sheet.
Indian authorities provided Thai officials with all necessary documentation, including Emergency Certificates issued after the cancellation of the brothers’ passports. Thai police detained the Luthras at a resort in Phuket after India requested their deportation following the suspension of their travel documents.
The deportation was carried out under the India–Thailand extradition treaty, which has been in force since 2015. Officials from both countries confirmed that due process was followed, with the Indian Embassy in Bangkok actively coordinating with Thai authorities.
Earlier reports had suggested that the case could face delays due to legal and human rights concerns related to passport cancellation. However, the swift deportation marks a significant breakthrough in the case.
According to the FIR registered at the Arpora-Anjuna Police Station in North Goa on December 7, the Luthra brothers allegedly organised a fire show at Birch by Romeo Lane without proper precautions, fire safety equipment or emergency evacuation arrangements. The FIR states that the establishment lacked emergency exit doors on both the ground and deck floors.
The fire resulted in the deaths of 25 people, including tourists and staff, and left several others seriously injured, triggering nationwide outrage and renewed scrutiny of safety compliance at entertainment venues.
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