Owners of Deadly Goa Nightclub Found in Thailand Following International Manhunt

NEW DELH : The international manhunt for the owners of a Goa nightclub where a fire killed 25 people has concluded, with brothers Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra detained in Thailand. India’s Ambassador to Thailand, Nagesh Singh, confirmed the detention to the BBC on Thursday, stating the two will be “sent back [to India].”

Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, who own the Birch By Romeo Lane club, fled to Phuket shortly after the deadly blaze broke out early Sunday morning in a busy nightlife area of the tourist state.

The detention comes one day after a Delhi court refused to grant the brothers protection from arrest, prompting the Goa government to approach India’s external affairs ministry to urgently revoke their passports.

Investigators believe the fire, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, was triggered by fireworks set off inside the venue. The tragedy has led to swift legal action, with Goa’s Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirming on Wednesday that six persons have already been arrested and promising “more arrests will be made soon.”

Despite the tragedy, the Luthra brothers’ lawyer told the court that his clients are victims of a “witch hunt.” Meanwhile, Saurabh Luthra, identified on social media as the company chairman, had posted a statement on Monday expressing “profound grief” and promising “assistance, support and cooperation” to the bereaved families.

However, investigators revealed they raided the brothers’ Delhi home hours after the fire only to discover they had already fled the country, necessitating the involvement of Interpol to track them down in Thailand. The immediate focus now shifts to the process of extradition to ensure the Luthra brothers face questioning in India regarding the tragic incident.