Goa Fire: Luthra Brothers Taken To Bangkok As Their Deportation Process Underway

Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of the Goa nightclub where 25 died in a fire, have been moved to Bangkok immigration following their detention in Phuket.

December 12, 2025: The process to repatriate Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of the ill-fated Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa, is now officially in motion. The brothers, sought in connection with the devastating fire that claimed 25 lives, were detained by Thai authorities in Phuket and are being prepared for their return to India to face legal proceedings.

Detention and Deportation Process

Thai police located and detained the nightclub co-owners at Hotel Indigo in Patong, Phuket. They have since been moved to the Bangkok immigration office, where they will be officially handed over to Indian officials. Photographs released on Thursday showed both men in handcuffs, confirming their custody.

The brothers had fled India on an IndiGo flight in the early hours of December 7, just as emergency crews were battling the blaze at their Arpora-based club. Their escape was swiftly countered when the Regional Passport Office in Delhi suspended their passports, rendering the documents invalid in Thailand and allowing authorities to act quickly on India’s detention request.

Timeline for Return

Indian officials are aiming to bring the brothers back by the end of the current week. However, the process, which involves obtaining Emergency Travel Certificates from the Indian embassy in Bangkok, could face bureaucratic delays, especially if paperwork is not completed before the weekend. Goa DGP Alok Kumar noted that the full deportation process is expected to take “a minimum of four days.”

A Goa Police team has already reached Phuket to coordinate the custody transfer. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed that a police escort team will be dispatched and that the brothers will be arrested immediately upon landing in India. Due to the lack of direct flights, the Luthras will first be flown to Delhi and then transported to Goa.

The Escape and The Blaze

Investigators revealed that Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra booked last-minute tickets to Phuket at 1:17 am on December 7, barely an hour and a half after the fire erupted, and boarded the flight by 5:30 am. Arrest warrants were subsequently issued, followed by a Lookout Circular and an Interpol Blue Corner Notice to trace their movements.

The fire at Birch by Romeo Lane began around 11:45 pm on December 6. Preliminary reports suggest the blaze, which turned the venue into a death trap, was ignited when electric firecrackers hit a wooden ceiling during an event with over 150 attendees. Most of the 25 victims, including both tourists and staff, were found in the basement, having succumbed to toxic smoke inhalation. Police have also arrested the club’s partner, Ajay Gupta, and five members of the nightclub’s staff in connection with the tragedy.