New Delhi: Delhi restaurateurs Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra were detained in Thailand on Tuesday, days after a catastrophic fire at their Goa nightclub killed 25 people and triggered an international search. The duo, who operate the Romeo Lane hospitality chain across India and abroad, had left the country hours after the blaze at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora, prompting Goa Police to issue a lookout alert and initiate coordination with Interpol.
Images released by Thai authorities showed the brothers with their hands restrained and passports displayed. Officials familiar with the matter said an Indian team has reached Thailand and is expected to secure their deportation within 24 hours. The two face charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and criminal negligence under the Indian Penal Code.
The fire broke out late Saturday during a musical event attended by nearly 100 guests, many of them tourists. Videos captured moments before the accident show dancers performing as electric pyrotechnics lit up the stage. Investigators believe sparks from these devices ignited highly flammable décor that lined the club’s interiors.
What followed exposed a chilling series of safety failures. The venue reportedly lacked a valid fire clearance, had no working extinguishers or alarms, and operated with a single, narrow exit constructed over a lakeside embankment. The access road was so constricted that fire engines were forced to stop almost 400 metres away, slowing emergency action. Most victims were discovered in the basement, with officials confirming that several died due to inhaling toxic smoke.
Among the 25 dead were five tourists from Delhi, Karnataka and Nepal, while the remaining were staff members on duty. Six others were injured.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant called the incident “deeply tragic” and ordered immediate safety audits across Goa’s coastal entertainment hubs. Four staff members were arrested in the early phase of the probe, and Delhi Police apprehended Ajay Gupta, a business partner of the Luthras, as part of the widening investigation.
Local governance bodies have also come under scrutiny. Arpora-Nagoa panchayat officials alleged that the structure had been built without proper permissions and was earlier served a demolition notice, which was later stayed following an appeal. The Goa Fire Department’s technical assessment concluded that a complete failure of fire-safety engineering and regulatory oversight contributed to the scale of the tragedy.
Meanwhile, the Luthra brothers have petitioned a Delhi court seeking anticipatory bail. They contend they were only licensees, were not present at the nightclub during the incident, and travelled to Thailand for a previously scheduled business meeting. They sought four weeks’ protection from arrest upon their return.
However, investigators maintain that their departure within hours of the fire strongly suggests an attempt to evade accountability.
As authorities prepare to bring the Luthras back to India, the disaster has reignited long-standing concerns over the unchecked expansion of nightlife venues in Goa and the enforcement gaps that often accompany rapid commercial growth.
