Goa nightclub fire: Luthra brothers arrested after arriving in India from Thailand

The brothers were seated in the last row of IndiGo flight 6E-1064 from Bangkok to Delhi, under the supervision of four to five Indian officials to avoid disturbing other passengers.

Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra, co-owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in North Goa, where 25 people died in a fire on December 6, landed in Delhi on Tuesday afternoon after being deported from Thailand.

The brothers were seated in the last row of IndiGo flight 6E-1064 from Bangkok to Delhi, under the supervision of four to five Indian officials to avoid disturbing other passengers, as per a News18 report.

Delhi Airport authorities, along with the Goa Police, took them into custody immediately upon arrival.

Photo source: Goa Police

They are expected to be escorted back to Goa later in the day and produced before a court to face charges related to operating the nightclub without proper safety permits.

The deadly blaze at the Arpora nightclub, believed to have started during a fire show, exposed alleged violations of fire safety regulations. A case of culpable homicide and negligence has been registered against the Luthras -- Gaurav, 44, and Saurabh, 40.

As per investigating officials, the club allegedly operated in breach of mandatory safety norms, resulting in the scale of the tragedy.

Following the incident, the brothers had fled to Phuket but were detained by Thai authorities on December 11 after intervention from the Indian mission. Their passports were cancelled by the Indian government, which submitted a dossier to Thai authorities detailing their alleged involvement in the deaths and formally requesting their deportation.

An Interpol Blue Corner Notice had also been issued against the duo.

Meanwhile, the Goa Police have arrested five managers and staff members of the nightclub, with officials indicating further arrests could follow as the investigation progresses.

The case has also drawn judicial attention. On Monday, the Bombay High Court converted a civil suit against Birch by Romeo Lane into a public interest litigation, noting, “Someone has to be held accountable” for the tragedy.