New Delhi: The main accused in the devastating Goa nightclub fire — Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra — are likely to be deported to India today as Indian
agencies intensify efforts to secure their return from Thailand. Sources said the Indian Embassy in Bangkok is in close coordination with Thai authorities to complete the remaining formalities under local law. The Luthra brothers are set to reach New Delhi on Tuesday and will be taken under CBI custody.
Indian agencies move swiftly to bring key accused home
The brothers, owners of the now-gutted Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa’s Arpora, are currently in Thai custody after being detained in Phuket last week. They are being processed for deportation rather than formal extradition, officials said, though the India–Thailand extradition treaty provides a strong legal framework for cooperation.
#WATCH | Goa’s Birch by Romeo Lane fire incident | Outside visuals from Bangkok Detention centre
The Embassy of India in Bangkok is in close touch with Thai authorities in the case related to Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra. The two have been detained by Thai authorities in… pic.twitter.com/wwYO8byR6A
— ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2025
A team from the Central Bureau of Investigation reached Phuket on Saturday to complete the paperwork linked to the brothers’ return. Officials confirmed that the Indian embassy is issuing emergency certificates and one-way travel documents after the Centre suspended the brothers’ Indian passports.
Goa government confirms process underway
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told the media that the investigative team had arrived in Thailand and that the process to bring the Luthra brothers back was already in motion. Goa Director General of Police Alok Kumar also said the duo was expected to be in India early next week, depending on procedural clearances.
The brothers were detained by Thai authorities after it emerged that they were staying in the country illegally. They had fled India just hours after the massive fire broke out at their nightclub on the night of December 6, even as rescue operations were still underway and fire personnel battled to control the blaze.
Following their departure, the Regional Passport Office in New Delhi issued notices to both men, seeking an explanation on why action should not be taken to impound their passports. Soon after a lookout notice was issued, the Ministry of External Affairs suspended their travel documents, rendering their stay in Thailand unlawful and prompting their detention.
Regulatory lapses under scanner in Goa probe
Meanwhile, the Goa Police investigation into the tragedy has uncovered serious regulatory failures. Investigators said the nightclub had been operating illegally for nearly 18 months without mandatory permissions and on an expired licence.
A senior officer associated with the probe said the licence had not been renewed because the establishment failed to secure required clearances from 2024 onwards. Police believe this played a crucial role in allowing unsafe conditions to persist at the venue.
So far, several arrests have been made. Those held include Gurgaon-based Ajay Gupta (55), a business partner of the Luthra brothers; New Delhi residents Rajiv Modak (49), the club’s chief general manager, and Priyanshu Thakur (32), the gate manager; Uttar Pradesh natives Rajveer Singhania (32), the bar manager, and Vivek Singh (27), the general manager; and Delhi-based Bharat Kohli.
How the tragedy unfolded
According to police, more than 150 tourists were inside the nightclub when the fire broke out around 11.45 pm during a weekend event. A preliminary inquiry by the police and the Directorate of Fire Services found that electric firecrackers used during the programme struck the wooden ceiling, triggering a blaze that spread rapidly through the premises.
25 people were killed in the inferno, making it one of the deadliest nightclub fires in the country in recent years.
Goa Police continue to record statements from government officials, fire department personnel and other witnesses as the investigation widens. With the deportation process now at an advanced stage, authorities say their focus is firmly on bringing the main accused back to India to face criminal proceedings and ensure accountability for the tragedy.
