Delhi nightclub owners detained in Thailand after Goa fire kills 25

Indian authorities are moving to bring back Delhi restaurateurs Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, who were detained in Thailand after a devastating fire at their Goa nightclub left 25 people dead. The brothers, seen in photos handcuffed and holding their passports beside Thai police officials, are expected to be deported within a day, according to officials familiar with the matter.

A late-night blaze tore through ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ in Goa’s Arpora village on Saturday, turning a packed music event into one of the state’s deadliest tragedies in recent years. While investigators are yet to issue their final report, early findings point to a combination of pyrotechnics, flammable décor and severe fire-safety violations that created a catastrophic chain of events.

Indian officials push for rapid deportation

A team from India has already landed in Thailand to facilitate the brothers’ return. Authorities say the Luthras fled to Phuket just hours after the fire began—timing that has raised serious questions about their intent.

The Goa Police have booked them for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and negligence. A senior official involved in the case said that securing their return is “a priority to ensure accountability in an incident of this magnitude.”

Their business partner, Ajay Gupta, was arrested in Delhi earlier this week.

A nightclub ill-prepared for disaster

The fire broke out during a musical performance attended by nearly 100 people, many of them tourists visiting Goa during the peak season. Videos from the night show performers dancing to Bollywood tracks while electric firecrackers ignite on stage—an element investigators believe may have sparked the blaze.

Once ignited, the fire spread rapidly.

Early assessments by fire officials revealed several alarming safety lapses:
• Highly combustible materials used extensively in the décor
• No functional fire extinguishers or alarms
• A narrow access road so congested that fire trucks had to stop nearly 400 metres away

These delays proved deadly. Most victims were found in the basement, where toxic smoke had accumulated heavily. Of the 25 people who died, five were tourists and the others were staff members. Six more remain injured.

A retired fire-safety consultant from Delhi, who reviewed the initial details of the case, said the tragedy reflects “a pattern seen in many Indian nightlife spaces where aesthetics and crowd capacity are prioritised over basic safety requirements.”

Luthra brothers deny wrongdoing

The Luthras—best known for operating the Romeo Lane chain with outlets across 22 Indian cities and four other countries—have filed a plea for anticipatory bail in a Delhi court.

In their petition, they argue:
• They are licensees, not the building’s owners
• They were not present at the club when the fire occurred
• Their trip to Thailand was for a pre-planned business meeting, not an attempt to flee

They have asked for four weeks of transit anticipatory bail to ensure they are not arrested immediately upon re-entering India.

Goa government promises accountability

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has called the incident “deeply tragic” and assured strict action against all those responsible. Four staff members have already been taken into custody.

The tragedy has reignited debate over lax enforcement of fire norms in India’s tourism hubs, where high seasonal demand often pushes businesses to operate beyond permitted capacities. Urban safety experts say the incident underscores the urgent need for stricter inspections, transparent accountability from commercial establishments and clearer guidelines for the use of pyrotechnics in enclosed spaces.