The two owners of a Goa nightclub where a fire killed 25 people are now one step closer to facing justice in India. Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the brothers who co-owned the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ club, have been transferred from Phuket to an immigration detention centre in Bangkok. This move is a key administrative step just before their expected deportation back to India.
Indian authorities confirmed that formal “deportation procedures are currently under process”. The Goa Police are coordinating with central agencies and expect to take custody of the brothers by early next week.
Who are the Luthra brothers and what are the charges?
Gaurav (44) and Saurabh (40) Luthra are Delhi-based entrepreneurs who operated the nightclub in Arpora, North Goa. They are wanted on serious charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, in connection with the deadly fire. Police allege they organized a pyro-show “without taking proper care”.
How did a nightclub fire turn into an international manhunt?
The tragedy struck on the night of December 6. As the club burned, the brothers, anticipating arrest, booked one-way tickets to Phuket, Thailand, at 1:17 AM. They boarded a flight out of Delhi just hours later. Their swift departure, while firefighters were still at the scene, was seen by police as a clear intent to avoid investigation.
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Why are they being deported and not extradited?
India and Thailand do have an extradition treaty, but using it is slow and legally complicated, often taking months or even years. To bring the brothers back faster, Indian officials chose a quicker option: deportation. The Ministry of External Affairs cancelled their passports, which made their stay in Thailand illegal under local immigration rules. This let Thai authorities detain them and send them back as “undocumented foreigners.”
What caused the deadly fire at the nightclub?
The investigation points to a chain of serious safety failures. Officials believe the blaze started when pyrotechnics used during a performance hit the club’s highly flammable thatched ceiling. The fire then spread rapidly, fueled by stored alcohol and made worse by a lack of proper exits. The club was also operating without a fire safety clearance. Narrow lanes forced fire engines to park 400 metres away, critically delaying the rescue effort.
Did the brothers try to get legal protection before fleeing?
After leaving India but before their detention in Thailand, the Luthra brothers filed for anticipatory bail in a Delhi court. Their lawyers argued they feared being “lynched in Goa” if they returned. The court firmly rejected their plea, noting the “grave and serious nature of the offence” and highlighting that they had booked their escape tickets after the fire began.
FAQs
Q. When will the Luthra brothers be brought back to India from Thailand?
A. While an exact date depends on final paperwork, deportation procedures are officially “under process.” The Goa Police expect to get custody by early next week.
Q. What is the difference between deportation and extradition in this case?
A. Deportation is the quicker way to remove people who break a country’s stay laws, for example by having an invalid passport. Extradition is the slower, court-controlled process used to return someone wanted for a criminal trial elsewhere.
Q. What were the main safety failures at the Goa nightclub?
A. Investigators found a thatched roof, illegal indoor pyrotechnics, blocked exits, stored alcohol fueling the flames, and no fire safety clearance. Firefighters were also hindered by narrow access lanes.
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