Luthra Brothers, Owners of Goa Nightclub Where Fire Killed 25, Deported to India

Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of the Goa nightclub where 25 people died in a devastating fire earlier this month, have been deported from Thailand and are en route to India, Goa Police officials told Hindustan Times on Monday.

The two are expected to land at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, where a Goa Police team is waiting to take them into custody. They will be detained immediately upon arrival, officials said.

“A team from Goa Police will leave for Delhi later tonight and will be present to secure their custody when they exit the Delhi airport,” a senior police official told HT.

The Luthra brothers owned the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, Goa, and had fled to Thailand within hours of the deadly blaze that broke out on the night of December 6–7, killing 25 people.

They were detained last week by Thai law enforcement at their hotel in Phuket following a request from Indian authorities. Their passports were impounded by the Indian government, and an Interpol Blue Notice was issued against them to track their whereabouts.

Upon arrival in India, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra will be produced before a Delhi court on Tuesday to seek transit remand, after which they are expected to be taken to Goa for further investigation, the official said.