Luthra Brothers Deported to India After Goa Nightclub Fire That Killed 25

Goa Nightclub Fire Case: Luthra Brothers Deported to India from Thailand.

Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in North Goa where 25 people were killed in a fire, were deported to India from Thailand on Tuesday, sources said.

The brothers were flown from Bangkok to Delhi, seated in the last row of the aircraft along with officials from Indian enforcement agencies. Sources said the arrangement was made to avoid any disturbance to other passengers.

The Goa Police are expected to take custody of the brothers upon arrival at Delhi airport and formally arrest them before escorting them to Goa later on Tuesday.

The Luthra brothers were deported on charges related to allegedly operating the nightclub without mandatory safety clearances. The December 6 fire is suspected to have been triggered during a fire show held at the premises.

Following the incident, the Goa government constituted a special legal team to investigate the case. Police have registered offences under Sections 105, 125, 125(a), 125(b) and 287 read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Investigators are collecting evidence related to alleged safety lapses and licensing violations to prepare a strong charge sheet. According to police, the Luthra brothers fled to Thailand shortly after the blaze.

As per the FIR, the accused organised a fire show at the Birch by Romeo Lane restaurant in Arpora without proper precautions, fire safety equipment or necessary safeguards. The resulting fire killed 25 people, including tourists and staff, and left several others seriously injured.

The investigation has also revealed that the restaurant was allegedly being operated without requisite permissions and licences from competent authorities. Another accused and co-partner, Ajay Gupta, has already been arrested by Goa Police in Delhi.

Earlier, Delhi’s Rohini District Court rejected the Luthra brothers’ transit anticipatory bail pleas, citing the gravity of the allegations and their conduct after the incident.