Accused owners arrested at Delhi airport after Thailand deportation.
The search for accountability in the horrific Goa fire tragedy took a major leap forward on Tuesday. Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of the 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub, are finally in the custody of Indian law enforcement. The duo, who had been on the run following the devastating blaze that claimed 25 lives, were arrested immediately after landing at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in the national capital.
The Luthra brothers arrived in India on a flight from Thailand, where they had been hiding since the incident occurred earlier this month. Their return was not voluntary; they were deported by Thai authorities after being detained for visa overstay violations. Once Indian officials revoked their passports, the path was cleared for their deportation back to face the legal system at home.
Officials confirmed that a dedicated team from the Goa Police was stationed at the immigration area in Delhi to execute the arrest warrants. While central agencies escorted the accused on the flight, the formal handover to state police occurred post-immigration clearance. The immediate plan involves producing the brothers before a Delhi court to secure a transit remand. This legal step is necessary to transport them to Goa, where they are expected to face the Mapusa Magistrate Court by December 17.
The background of this case is grim. A massive fire erupted at their venue in Arpora, North Goa, during a packed event, resulting in a high death toll and sparking national outrage regarding safety standards in nightlife venues. The brothers reportedly fled to Phuket mere hours after the flames engulfed the club.
Legal pressure is mounting on multiple fronts. The Bombay High Court’s Goa bench has taken suo motu cognizance of the disaster, converting a civil claim into a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The court has demanded answers regarding how the establishment obtained licenses despite previous demolition orders. Meanwhile, the police have charged the Luthra brothers under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a serious offense punishable by up to a decade in prison. With the key accused now in custody, investigators are set to accelerate their probe into the fatal lapses that led to this tragedy.
