The owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa, Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, were deported from Thailand on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. They arrived at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport under the custody of central agency officials and are currently being handed over to the Goa Police.
The brothers fled India for Phuket just 90 minutes after a catastrophic fire broke out at their nightclub in Arpora, North Goa, on the night of December 6, 2025. The blaze resulted in the deaths of 25 people, including 20 staff members and 5 tourists.
📅 Chronology of the Case
| Date | Event |
| Dec 6, 2025 | Fire breaks out at Birch by Romeo Lane around 11:45 PM during a fire show. |
| Dec 7, 2025 | The Luthras book flights at 1:17 AM and fly to Phuket, Thailand at 5:30 AM. |
| Dec 9, 2025 | Thai authorities detain the brothers in Phuket following an Interpol Blue Notice. |
| Dec 11, 2025 | A Delhi court denies anticipatory bail, calling the offense “grave and serious.” |
| Dec 16, 2025 | The brothers are deported to Delhi and produced before the Patiala House Court. |
⚖️ Legal Proceedings and Charges
The Goa Police have registered an FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) with the following serious charges:
- Section 105: Culpable homicide not amounting to murder (carrying up to 10 years in prison).
- Section 125(a) & (b): Endangering life and personal safety of others.
- Section 287: Negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter.
The police will seek a transit remand from the Delhi court today to transport the brothers to Goa by late evening for further interrogation.
🔍 Investigation Highlights
The probe has revealed severe safety violations at the establishment:
- Safety Lapses: The club lacked emergency exits, fire alarms, and functional fire extinguishers.
- Illegal Operation: The club’s Panchayat license had reportedly expired and was never renewed.
- Unauthorized Activity: The “fire show” that allegedly triggered the blaze was conducted without required permissions or precautions.
In addition to the brothers, six others have been named in the case, including their business partner Ajay Gupta, who was recently detained in Delhi after attempting to hide in a private hospital.