Goa Club Fire: Luthra Brothers Flew Out Quietly, Landed in Thailand After Arpora Club Blaze

The Delhi court hearing anticipatory bail pleas of Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra in the Goa nightclub fire case has kept its order reserved, with a decision expected at 5 pm. Goa Police told the court that the brothers misled investigators about their travel details and showed no cooperation, even as 25 deaths from the December 6 blaze remained under investigation.

During arguments, Goa Police accused the Delhi-based businessmen of hiding the timing of their exit from India and questioned their reasons for travelling to Thailand. The officers claimed the Luthra brothers left India on December 7, a few hours after their North Goa club Birch by Romeo Lane caught fire, rather than on the night of December 6 as they allegedly told authorities.

Goa nightclub fire case: police allegations against Luthra brothers

Placing their stand on record, Goa Police told the court, according to news agency ANI: "There is no cooperation on the part of Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, which disentitled them for extraordinary protection by this court. They have no business in Thailand. They left the country on December 7. Though they said that they had left on the night of December 6. Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra misled the court, misled the authorities and left the country," the statement said, as officers opposed any relief.

The Luthra brothers, who run the Romeo Lane restaurant chain and operated Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora, are under scrutiny for alleged safety lapses at the nightclub. Investigators said the blaze on December 6 broke out during a musical event with nearly 100 people present, and that planning decisions inside and outside the venue contributed to the high death toll.

Goa nightclub fire case: how the blaze unfolded and casualties

Videos from shortly before the incident showed performers on stage dancing to Bollywood tracks as electric firecrackers burst nearby, which officials believe likely sparked the fire. The club reportedly had extensive flammable decorations, no working fire alarms or extinguishers, and a narrow approach road that forced fire engines to halt almost 400 metres away while the basement filled with toxic smoke.

By the time firefighters controlled the flames, 25 people were dead, including five tourists and 20 staff members. Most victims, investigators said, died from inhaling poisonous fumes while trapped below ground. The disaster struck Goa during peak holiday season and raised fresh concerns about safety standards and checks at crowded entertainment venues across the state.

Goa nightclub fire case: investigation, arrests and Thailand travel

The tragedy led to the arrest of four staff members, while police launched a wider search for those responsible for the club’s operations. Investigators later found that flight tickets to Thailand were booked while firefighting efforts were still on, and that Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra flew out of India only hours after the incident.

Business partner Ajay Gupta was earlier arrested in Delhi and then moved to Goa for further questioning. Meanwhile, authorities in Thailand detained both Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, and they are expected to be deported soon, allowing Goa Police to seek custody once they land back in India.

Goa nightclub fire case: claims in Luthra brothers’ bail plea

In their anticipatory bail plea, the Luthras argued that they were licence holders rather than owners of the building where Birch by Romeo Lane functioned. They claimed they travelled to Thailand for a scheduled business meeting, insisted they had no plan to avoid Indian authorities, and stressed that they were not at the nightclub when the fire started.

The brothers requested four weeks of transit anticipatory bail so they would not face immediate arrest on arrival in India. As the Delhi court weighs these claims alongside police allegations of non-cooperation and misleading statements, the case continues to draw public attention, with families of the 25 victims awaiting clarity on accountability for the Goa nightclub fire.