Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: In a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the deadly Goa nightclub fire, sources on Monday confirmed that Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, are set to be arrested at Delhi airport upon their return to India.
According to sources, the Goa Police will no longer travel to Thailand, as the brothers are expected to arrive in Delhi on Tuesday, where they will be taken into custody immediately after landing. The move follows the completion of legal and procedural formalities required for their arrest.
The case pertains to the December 6 fire tragedy at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, North Goa, which claimed the lives of 25 persons, including 20 staff members and five tourists, while six others sustained injuries. Fire department officials said the majority of the victims died due to asphyxiation caused by dense smoke after getting trapped inside the premises.
Preliminary findings indicate that the fire may have been triggered by fireworks used inside the club, raising serious concerns over safety violations and crowd management. Investigators also flagged narrow exits and a restricted access bridge, which severely hampered evacuation and delayed rescue operations, as fire engines were forced to remain at a distance from the site.
Immigration records revealed that the Luthra brothers left India for Thailand within hours of the incident, boarding an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Phuket while rescue efforts were still in progress. Following their departure, the Goa Police issued a Look Out Circular (LOC), and Interpol subsequently issued a Blue Corner Notice to trace their whereabouts. Acting on the request of the Goa government, their passports were later cancelled, rendering them illegal immigrants under Thai law.
In a recent development, a Delhi court declined to grant interim protection from arrest to the brothers, clearing the path for law enforcement agencies to proceed with custodial action.
Sources said a legal team representing the Luthra brothers travelled to Bangkok earlier on Monday to assist them with legal formalities related to deportation. Two members of the team were permitted to meet the brothers in Thai custody for about 30 minutes, during which their health and medical condition were reviewed, and the deportation process was explained in detail.
Officials familiar with the process stated that Thai immigration authorities are preparing to place the matter before a local court, a mandatory legal step before deportation. Once court procedures are completed and immigration clearances are secured, deportation orders are expected to be issued swiftly.
Sources added that the brothers were detained in Thailand after losing their valid immigration status due to the cancellation of their Indian passports. As per Thai law, deportation cannot be carried out without valid travel documents, making the issuance of Emergency Certificates by Indian authorities crucial for their return.
Thai officials have reportedly extended full cooperation in the matter, facilitating legal access and expediting administrative procedures, as the investigation into one of Goa’s deadliest nightclub fires moves into a critical phase.
