Goa nightclub fire: Luthra brothers were at Delhi wedding, fled to Thailand hours after deadly blaze

Goa nightclub fire

The co-owners of the Goa nightclub, were attending a wedding in Delhi when a deadly blaze ripped through the club, resulting in the deaths of 25 people. Shortly after getting information about the fire at Birch By Romeo Lane, Saurav and Gaurav Luthra made hurried plans to travel to Thailand.

According to documents submitted in a Goa court, within an hour of learning about the incident, they booked flight tickets to Phuket and left India early the next morning, NDTV reported.

As per the report, the brothers booked their tickets at 1.17 am on December 7, barely an hour after the fire, and departed by 5.20 am. On Thursday, officials confirmed that both men were detained in Thailand.

Meanwhile, a Delhi court rejected their anticipatory transit bail pleas, noting that their actions showed an attempt to evade responsibility. “They left, they concealed, and they are now seeking leniency,” the Goa government’s counsel argued, adding that fleeing immediately after the tragedy reflected their disregard for the legal process.

Goa Police have charged the duo with causing injury resulting in death, manslaughter and murder. Investigators say the nightclub organised a dangerous fire show “without proper care or caution and without adequate fire safety equipment,” which allegedly triggered the deadly blaze.

After the Luthras fled, Goa Police sought international assistance, leading to an Interpol Blue Corner Notice issued on December 9 through the CBI. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has assured the public that both accused will be brought back to India soon to face legal action.

In response to the tragedy, the Goa government has banned fireworks, sparklers, pyrotechnic displays, flame-thrower devices, smoke generators and similar equipment inside all tourist establishments. Fireworks are suspected to have caused the blaze at Birch By Romeo Lane.

The third accused, Ajay Gupta, described as a silent partner and investor, was in Goa the night of the incident but did not visit the club. He flew to Delhi the next morning. Police later traced him to a hospital in Lajpat Nagar, Delhi, where he was admitted. Gupta has now been placed in police custody for seven days as part of the ongoing investigation.