Luthra brothers land in Delhi after deportation from Thailand, to be produced in court

Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of the Goa nightclub where 25 people died in a massive fire, landed in Delhi on Tuesday (December 16) after they were deported from Thailand.

They were handed over to the Indian authorities immediately on arriving at the airport and taken into custody for further legal proceedings. The duo is expected to be produced before a Delhi court, according to a PTI report, quoting sources.

Luthras to face remand

The deportation follows their detention in Phuket on December 11. The Indian mission intervened and coordinated closely with Thai authorities. The Indian government cancelled the passports of the two brothers and submitted a dossier to Thai authorities alleging their involvement in the deaths and formally seeking their deportation.

An Interpol Blue Corner Notice was issued against the brothers after they left the country shortly after the incident.

The two will be produced before the Patiala House Court, where officials will seek their transit remand. The Goa police team is expected to bring them to Goa by Tuesday (December 16) night.

Also Read: Goa nightclub fire: Prime accused Luthra brothers detained in Thailand

Goa Police has arrested five managers and staff members of the nightclub in connection with the case. Police said further arrests could follow as the investigation progresses. Officials from several government departments involved in issuing permits and licences to the club have also been summoned for questioning.

The Bombay High Court on Monday (December 15) converted a civil suit against Birch by Romeo Lane into a public interest litigation. “Someone has to be held accountable” for the tragedy, the court observed.

Fled to Thailand after tragedy

The Luthra brothers, against whom a case of culpable homicide and negligence has been registered, fled to Phuket, Thailand, just hours after the tragedy on an IndiGo flight. They were reportedly attending a wedding in Delhi when the incident occurred.

Upon learning of the fire and its likely scale, Saurabh and Gaurav are said to have contacted their office in Delhi’s Model Town, instructing staff to book flight tickets. They then returned home, collected documents, and fled the country.

Also Read: Luthras fled abroad, partner escaped Goa: What happened after the nightclub fire

The two were detained in Thailand on December 9 after stepping out of their hotel for a meal.

Sources said this brief outing alerted authorities to their presence in Phuket. Thai officials subsequently verified their identities and travel details, after which efforts began to deport them to India.

Fire safety violations

Earlier this month, a musical night at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, Goa, owned by the Luthra brothers, turned tragic when a fire broke out, killing 25 people and injuring several others.

A preliminary investigation into the tragedy has revealed widespread safety violations that turned the nightclub into a tinderbox.

Officials noted that the club lacked an emergency exit, had no functioning fire extinguishers or safety alarms, and was accessible only via a narrow road unsuitable for fire engines.

Also Read: Luthras' detention reignites questions over Goa’s unsafe, illegal nightlife

Despite repeated warnings, the management allegedly failed to rectify these safety breaches. The club was also operating without the proper permissions and licences, according to the FIR.