Goa Club Fire: Owners Fled to Thailand Hours After Blaze That Killed 25, Say Police

Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra — Delhi-based businessmen who own Birch by Romeo Lane, the Goa nightclub where a fire killed 25 people late Saturday — fled the country within hours of the tragedy, Goa Police said on Monday.

According to police, the brothers boarded IndiGo flight 6E 1073 from Delhi to Phuket at 5:30 am on December 7, barely five hours after authorities received the first distress call about the blaze at 12:04 am. When police visited their Delhi residence on Monday, they were not found there. A later statement confirmed they had already left India.

Despite fleeing, Saurabh Luthra posted on Instagram expressing “profound grief” and offering support to the victims’ families.

The fire at the Arpora-based nightclub is suspected to have been triggered by a cooking-gas cylinder blast, though the exact cause is still under investigation. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has ordered a four-member magisterial probe. Among the victims were three sisters — Anita, Kamla and Saroj Joshi — and Vinod Kumar, the husband of another sister. Their last rites were performed in Delhi on Monday.

Police Issue Look-Out Notice, Seek Interpol Help

A look-out circular was issued for the Luthra brothers on Sunday evening. Goa Police spokesperson DSP Nilesh Rane said immigration authorities in Mumbai confirmed the duo had flown to Phuket early Sunday — a move he said “shows their intent to avoid police investigation.”

Goa Police have now sought Interpol assistance via the CBI to trace and detain the brothers. Meanwhile, police detained a nightclub employee, Bharat Kohli, in Delhi and transported him to Goa for questioning.

The BJP-led state government has also initiated action against the Romeo Lane hospitality chain, sealing two of its properties — including a beach shack and another club — in Vagator and Assagao.