In a swift turn in the investigation into a deadly blaze at a popular Goa nightclub, Delhi-based entrepreneurs Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra—co-owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane venue—have been apprehended in Thailand.
The brothers, whose Romeo Lane hospitality chain spans outlets across 22 Indian cities and four international locations, bolted to Phuket mere hours after the catastrophic fire tore through their Arpora village establishment in north Goa. The incident, which erupted around midnight on December 6, claimed 25 lives and has triggered charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, alongside allegations of criminal negligence.
Authorities in Goa, acting decisively, have sought intervention from the Ministry of External Affairs to strip the Luthras of their passports under the Passports Act. Sources confirmed on Wednesday that the ministry received the state’s formal request regarding the siblings and is now reviewing it in line with established protocols.
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An Interpol Blue Corner Notice had already been circulated against Saurabh and Gaurav, amplifying global efforts to track them down. Their hasty departure underscores the mounting pressure on those linked to the tragedy, which unfolded 25 kilometers from Panaji.
In a related courtroom development, a Delhi court on Wednesday denied the duo any temporary shield from arrest. Their legal counsel contested claims of flight, insisting the Phuket trip was a pre-planned business engagement. The lawyer further maintained that the brothers served merely as licensees, not outright proprietors, of the nightclub. Meanwhile, a business associate of the Luthras was taken into custody in connection with the fire.
Goa Police have moved aggressively, detaining five managers and staffers from the site as probes intensify into the blaze’s origins and the venue’s safety lapses. The state administration has since initiated a demolition drive at the property, signaling broader repercussions for tourism operations in the coastal hub.