Goa Nightclub Owners Detained in Thailand Following Deadly Blaze That Killed 25

Thai authorities detained Indian nationals Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra in Phuket, Thailand, in connection with a tragic nightclub fire in Goa, India that claimed the lives of 25 people, including staff and tourists.

The brothers, identified by Indian officials as the co-owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, North Goa, had fled India within hours of the deadly blaze, boarding a flight to Thailand shortly after the fire broke out around midnight on December 6.

Indian police had issued a Look-Out Circular and sought international cooperation through Interpol, which flagged the brothers’ movements via a Blue Corner notice. Thai authorities detained them at the request of Indian law enforcement, and procedures to deport them back to India to face legal action are underway.

The fire erupted during a crowded event and rapidly spread through the venue, understood to have originated from fireworks or electric firecrackers used indoors and exacerbated by highly flammable décor, inadequate fire-safety systems, and narrow access routes that delayed emergency response.

Preliminary police findings suggest serious safety lapses, including a lack of extinguishers, alarms, and proper egress, which contributed to the high casualty count.

Investigators allege that the owners and staff failed to ensure compliance with basic safety norms and have filed charges, including culpable homicide and manslaughter, against the Luthra brothers and other accused.

A Goa Police team has travelled to Thailand to obtain custody of the brothers and bring them back to India, where they are expected to be formally arrested and questioned. A Delhi court recently denied their plea for transit anticipatory bail, and action by the Indian judiciary continues to progress.

In related developments, another co-owner, Ajay Gupta, has been remanded to police custody in India as part of the ongoing investigation. The tragedy has sparked nationwide outrage and intensified scrutiny of fire-safety compliance at entertainment venues across Goa.

Sources: Reuters,  Associated Press, ABC News, Times of India, BoldNewsOnline, India Blooms, Republic World