Gaurav Luthraand Saurabh Luthra, the Delhi-based co-owners of the Goa nightclubgutted in a deadly fire, are currently in custody in Thailandand are awaiting deportation. The Indian embassy in Bangkokis in contact with Thai authorities after the brothers were detained in Phuket following the embassy’s intervention.
Efforts are being made to deport them at the earliest and the Goa Police expects to take custody of the Luthra brothers by early next week, according to a report by Hindustan Times.
“Deportation procedures of Luthra brothers are currently under process and Goa Police is in continuous coordination with the central agencies,” the state police said in a statement on Friday.
The brothers had fled to Phuket on the night of December 6-7, shortly after a fire broke out at their nightclub, Birch by Romeo Lane, in Arpora in north Goa. The blaze claimed at least 25 lives.
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After being detained in Phuket on Thursday, the brothers were shifted to Bangkok, the news outlet reported citing sources. They had left India soon after the fire, flying from Delhi to Phuket, anticipating arrest.
Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant has said a team from the Goa Police and the CBI would bring the Luthras back “as soon as possible”.
Initially, the fire was believed to have been caused by a cooking gas cylinder explosion. However, police later said the use of firecrackers is also being investigated. The probe has also highlighted heavy use of flammable decor material and serious violations of fire safety norms at the club.
Gaurav (44) and Saurabh (40) have been accused of “injury causing death, manslaughter and murder” for organising a fire show “without taking proper care”.
What was the reason behind the blaze?
Authorities said electrically detonated pyroguns used during a belly dancing performance likely triggered the fire.
Several factors worsened the situation, including major safety lapses such as too few exits, the use of pyroguns, a thatched roof and large quantities of alcohol stored inside. These conditions caused the fire to spread rapidly, engulfing the 300-square-metre club within minutes.
Luthra brothers approaches Rohini court
The brothers had approached a court in Rohini, Delhi, seeking a four-week transit anticipatory bail. Their lawyers argued that they would face “irremediable and irreversible prejudice” if arrested on their return. They also claimed they would be “lynched in Goa” if they came back without bail protection. The Delhi court, however, rejected the plea, citing the “grave and serious nature of the offence”. It also noted that the brothers had hidden the fact that they booked tickets to Phuket after the fire had started, suggesting they planned their escape immediately after the incident.
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The Luthras are being brought back through deportation, which is faster than extradition. The Indian government used the passport route, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) suspending their passports, leaving them in Phuket without valid travel documents.
India-Thailand extradition treaty
Staying in Thailand without valid documents is an offence under Thai immigration laws, which allows local authorities to deport them as undocumented foreigners. The process to bring them back involves coordination between the MEA, the CBI, and the Indian embassy in Thailand, along with Thai police and government officials.
Although India and Thailand have an extradition treaty, that route is far more time-consuming. It requires a formal request and proof of “double criminality”, meaning the alleged offence must be punishable under both Indian and Thai laws. Such cases have often taken years, as seen in efforts to bring back fugitives like Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya, who are accused of major financial frauds in India. |
