Goa nightclub fire: Luthra brothers brought back from Thailand, produced in Delhi court today
Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, co-owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa's Arpora, where a devastating fire claimed the lives of 25 people, landed in India on Tuesday after being deported from Thailand.
The brothers were accompanied by a team of officials from central agencies, while the Goa police were present at the immigration area to complete formal arrest procedures.
The Luthras, who allegedly fled to Thailand within hours of the deadly fire at the club they own, were detained by Thai authorities in Phuket after the intervention of the Indian Embassy. They were shifted to an immigration facility in Bangkok before being brought to Delhi.
Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra were produced before the Patiala House Court on Tuesday late evening. The court granted a two-day transit remand to the Goa Police, allowing the accused to be taken to Goa to face further legal proceedings in the case related to the deadly nightclub fire.
During the court proceedings, the Luthra brothers were seen breaking down in tears and embracing their family members, an emotional moment that unfolded inside the court premises.
The Delhi-based businessmen had fled to Thailand’s Phuket just 90 minutes after the December 6 blaze at their nightclub claimed the lives of 25 people. They booked tickets to Phuket at a time when the Goa Police and Fire Services teams were engaged in rescue operations at the nightclub.
Indian authorities had approached Thai officials, as well as Interpol, to seek the brothers' deportation from Thailand. With the help of Interpol, the Indian government had also issued a Blue Corner Notice against the brothers after they left the country. The two were spotted during an outing in Phuket and detained in their hotel room in Thailand following a request from India on December 11.
They run a chain of Romeo Lane cafes, restaurants and bars across 37 cities in the country, including Delhi, Dehradun, Noida, Gurugram, and Hyderabad. They also have a presence in Dubai and London, with plans to open one in New York as well. They had applied for an anticipatory bail before a Delhi court from Thailand, via their counsel. They argued that they had gone to Thailand for work, adding that they were ‘not absconders’. However, the Goa police dismissed their claims and said that the brothers had no business interests in Thailand.
Police also told the court that the brothers had shown no cooperation in the investigation and had also misled the authorities.
During the probe, police found multiple violations of safety norms at the establishment. “The club had no functional fire extinguishers or safety alarms, and the access road was too narrow for fire engines. There was no emergency exit either. The restaurant was found operating without proper permissions and licences,” a senior IPS officer said.
The investigation revealed that despite repeated warnings, the management failed to address the safety lapses. Investigators also stated that the intervention of a former IPS officer had earlier played a role in the disposal of a case against Birch By Romeo Lane, which, they said, emboldened the owners to continue flouting norms.
Corporate filings further showed that the Luthra brothers are directors or partners in 42 entities, including private limited companies and limited liability partnerships. Investigators flagged an unusual pattern, noting that most of these firms are registered at the same address — 2590, Ground Floor, Hudson Line, North West Delhi.
The repeated use of a single address across dozens of companies is considered a red flag in financial investigations and is often linked to shell entities, anonymous fund routing and potential money laundering. “We are probing into the matter,” the officer said.
The fire broke out past midnight on December 7, when a musical night was being held at the nightclub. About 100 people, mostly tourists, were partying at that time. The use of electric firecrackers was believed to have caused the fire.
Goa Police has arrested five managers and staff members of the nightclub in connection with the case. Officials said further arrests could follow as the investigation progresses.
The Bombay High Court on Monday 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.