NEW DELHI: Deportation proceedings have begun against Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of the Birch By Romeo Lane Club in Goa, with Thai authorities coordinating with Indian law enforcement for their return, officials told ANI.
Late on December 6, a devastating fire broke out at the nightclub, claiming 25 lives, including five tourists and 20 staff members.
The brothers are currently being held at a detention centre in Bangkok after being moved from Phuket, where they were detained following India’s move to suspend their passports in connection with the fire in Arpora.
The Indian Embassy in Bangkok is also actively coordinating with Thai authorities, and sources said the brothers were detained in Phuket following the embassy’s intervention. Thai officials are processing the case under local law, including steps for their deportation to India.
They said due process would be followed as cooperation continues between the two countries, with authorities working closely with their Indian counterparts to ensure a prompt and lawful handover, as cited by ANI.
Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant reiterated that strict action would be taken against the accused, saying the state government remains committed to securing justice for those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
"Our government will work to give justice to the 25 people who lost their lives...We will put them (the club owners, Luthra brothers) behind bars," Sawant said on Thursday, as cited by ANI.
What happened at Birch by Romeo Lane
Twenty-five people, including five tourists, were killed after the fire broke out, while more than 50 others were injured and hospitalised. Officials said most of the victims were staff members working inside the premises.
Preliminary findings indicate the blaze was triggered by a cylinder explosion, with three people dying of burn injuries and the rest succumbing to suffocation as thick smoke filled the enclosed space. At least 100 people were on the dance floor when the fire broke out, and in a bid to escape, some ran downstairs to the kitchen area, where they became trapped along with staff, an eyewitness told news agency PTI. Most of the victims were reportedly in the basement area, including three women and several tourists.
Luthra brothers nabbed
The brothers were detained by Thai authorities in Phuket earlier this week and are set to be deported to India to face investigation over the deadly fire. Ticket records show the brothers left for Phuket at around 5.30 am on December 7, hours after the fire broke out, while rescue operations were still underway.
Goa Police quickly extended the probe internationally, issuing a lookout circular and securing an Interpol blue corner notice on December 9. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) suspended their passports on December 11 and alerted Thai authorities. The brothers’ plea for bail, claiming they had travelled to Thailand “for work,” was rejected by the court.
Police told the court the tickets were booked after the fire, contradicting the brothers’ claim they had left on December 6 for business, an act officials called “incriminating.” Thai immigration authorities arrested the brothers on December 11, releasing images showing them in handcuffs at a Phuket resort following requests from Indian agencies.
The brothers are also expected to face corporate scrutiny after investigators found that their North Delhi office at 2590, Ground Floor, Hudson Lane, served as the registered address for multiple companies and Limited Liability Partnerships.
Goa police extend custody of accused Bharat Kohli
Goa Police have extended the custody of another accused in the Birch Club fire, Bharat Kohli, by six days for further investigation, officials said. The Mapusa Sessions Court has also issued notices regarding anticipatory bail applications filed by Arpora Panchayat Sarpanch Roshan Redkar and Secretary Raghuvir Bagkar.
The court has granted police time until December 16 at 2.30 pm to file a detailed reply and present arguments, according to a press note. So far, over 50 statements have been recorded from individuals connected to the incident, including officials, workers, and victims.
Fireworks banned in North Goa
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the North Goa district administration on Thursday banned fireworks inside nightclubs, hotels, and other tourist establishments. On Wednesday, BJP’s coalition partner, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), called for the closure of all nightclubs in the state to promote “good tourism.”
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