Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra — co-owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa where 25 people were killed in a devastating fire linked to a suspected indoor fireworks — have been detained in Phuket, Thailand. The brothers had fled to the country on an IndiGo flight from Delhi barely hours after the tragedy, prompting authorities in India to issue a Look-Out Circular and an Interpol Blue Notice.
Official sources confirmed that a team from Goa Police is preparing to travel to Thailand to take custody of the duo and escort them back to India to face criminal proceedings. Their abrupt departure on December 7, at a time when emergency crews were still battling the flames and rescuing victims, raised serious questions. Investigators later found that the brothers had booked their tickets at 1:17 am, shortly after the incident unfolded at the Arpora club.
The Luthras, who had previously refused to return citing fear of arrest, claimed through legal channels that they were not involved in the daily functioning of the establishment and were being targeted unfairly. They also maintained that their trip to Thailand was for business and not an attempt to flee.
However, a detailed police investigation paints a starkly different picture. The FIR notes that Birch by Romeo Lane lacked essential fire-safety essentials such as extinguishers, alarms, suppression equipment, and a valid fire audit — all mandatory requirements. Officers allege that the owners, managers, partners, and senior staff conducted a fire act at the venue despite knowing the risks, and without implementing basic precautions.
The report also cites the absence of emergency exits on both the deck and the ground floor, which left several patrons trapped when the blaze rapidly engulfed the structure.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had vowed swift action, ordering a crackdown on unsafe and illegal establishments across the state. A second property owned by the Luthras — a beachfront shack — has since been demolished for violating construction and safety norms.
Meanwhile, Ajay Gupta, another partner at the nightclub, was detained in Delhi. He has maintained that he was only a passive investor and was unaware of operational failures at the venue.
With the Luthra brothers now detained abroad and deportation procedures underway, Indian agencies are working closely with Thai authorities to ensure they are brought back to face trial for one of the state’s most horrific nightlife tragedies.
