Goa Police on Sunday brought back Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of a Goa nightclub that caught fire earlier this month, killing several people. Authorities are now taking the brothers to Goa to face further legal proceedings.
Police have registered cases of culpable homicide and negligence against the two men. Officials returned them to India from Thailand after detaining them there.
The brothers transited through Delhi before boarding a flight to Goa. NDTV accessed photographs showing them seated in the waiting area at Delhi airport under police supervision. One wore a white hoodie, while the other covered his face with a mask and cap.
Authorities will produce them before a Goa court after landing.
Delhi Court Grants Transit Remand
Earlier, the Patiala House Court in Delhi granted a two-day transit remand to the Goa Police. The order allowed officers to take custody of the brothers and escort them to Goa for questioning.
Police brought the brothers back on an IndiGo flight on Sunday afternoon. Once they reach Goa, investigators plan to seek further custodial remand.
Police Allege Swift Escape After Fire
Investigators allege that the Luthra brothers fled India within hours of the fire at their nightclub, Birch by Romeo Lane. At the time, they were attending a wedding in Delhi.
Police say the brothers contacted their Model Town office soon after learning about the blaze. They asked staff to urgently book flight tickets. The brothers then returned home, collected documents, and left the country the same day.
They flew to Phuket, Thailand, where Thai authorities detained them on December 11. Officers took them into custody after they stepped out of their hotel for a meal. Indian agencies had requested their detention.
Fire Broke Out During Musical Event
The fire broke out during a musical night at the Goa nightclub earlier this month. Videos from the scene showed thick smoke and towering flames inside the venue.
Another clip captured a dancer performing to the song “Mehbooba Mehbooba”. Flames appeared on the ceiling moments later. Panic followed as people rushed to escape.
The incident led to multiple casualties and sparked widespread outrage.
Probe Finds Serious Safety Violations
Police say their preliminary investigation uncovered grave fire safety violations at the nightclub.
According to the FIR, the venue had:
-
No emergency exits
-
No working fire extinguishers
-
No fire alarms
-
A narrow access road that blocked fire engines
Officials also found that the club operated without valid licences and permissions. Authorities had warned the management earlier, but the owners failed to fix the lapses.
Investigators say these violations created a dangerous environment and worsened the impact of the fire.
Several Arrests Made So Far
Police have arrested four staff members, including the club manager. Investigators say more arrests remain possible.
Authorities also arrested Ajay Gupta, another co-owner of the nightclub, in Delhi last week. Gupta initially claimed he played no active role in operations. Investigators later found otherwise.
Police say Gupta was in Goa when the fire broke out. He later fled to Delhi. Officers arrested him from a hospital in Lajpat Nagar, where he had admitted himself to avoid arrest.
Investigation Focuses on Accountability
With the Luthra brothers back in custody, investigators will now examine individual responsibility, financial control, and operational decisions.
The case has renewed debate over fire safety enforcement, licensing failures, and regulatory oversight at nightlife venues.
As court proceedings begin in Goa, officials say the probe will widen. Authorities plan to fix accountability at every level.
