PHUKET, THAILAND – Two Indian nightclub owners accused over a deadly fire that killed 25 people in Goa were arrested in Phuket after an international manhunt.
Nightclub blaze in Goa leaves 25 dead
The fire at upscale nightclub “Birch by Romeo Lane” in Goa shocked India and left 25 people dead, many of them young staff members, along with five tourists. While firefighters and investigators searched the ruins for answers, club owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra disappeared. Their flight ended in Phuket after an international search involving Interpol.
Fireworks blamed for ‘fireball’ inside club
The disaster occurred on 6 December, initially suspected to have been caused by a gas cylinder explosion. Police later confirmed a different trigger: fireworks ignited in the middle of the club, with witnesses describing a “fireball” that transformed the room within seconds.
“There was no escape,”
said a shocked survivor, adding that many of the victims were employees who had just started their shifts.
From public sympathy post to international flight
In the hours after the fire, police arrested six staff members, including the club manager, but the alleged main offenders were missing. Shortly before fleeing, Saurabh Luthra published an emotional message on social media, promising “full support” for the victims’ families. Just hours later, both brothers were reported to have left India, and when investigators searched their Delhi home it was empty, with indications they had already gone to Thailand.
Diplomatic pressure and the move to revoke passports
As India’s government increased pressure, a diplomatic race began over the case. Authorities in Goa announced plans to revoke the brothers’ passports in an effort to limit their movements. The families of the victims continued to demand answers and justice while the search for the two men widened beyond India’s borders.
Arrest on Phuket after Interpol hunt
On 11 December, Indian ambassador Nagesh Singh in Thailand confirmed the arrest of the two brothers. Thai officers detained them in Phuket, the island resort that had become their final refuge, while the media sought explanations the men refused to give. Their lawyer described the proceedings as a “witch hunt” and argued it was a tragic accident now being blamed on his clients.
Possible charges and looming court battles
The men were expected to be extradited to India, where they faced trials over alleged gross negligence and possible violations of safety regulations. The key question remained whether investigators could prove they were more than simply unfortunate club owners at the center of a catastrophe. Legal observers anticipated the possibility of a lengthy dispute between the two countries over the handling of the case.
Other Indian cases drawing attention in Thailand
The arrest formed part of a series of unusual incidents involving Indian nationals in Thailand. In June, a man was detained after making a bomb threat on an Air India flight, forcing an emergency landing. In August, another suspect in Pattaya was exposed when he allegedly tried to avoid paying a 9,000-baht nightclub bill using a forged bank receipt.
Demand for justice from victims’ families
India’s justice system was already preparing for the proceedings while public debate focused on guilt, responsibility and flight from the scene of tragedy. The families of those who died in the Goa fire said they wanted not only explanations but accountability and closure. Whether the Phuket arrests marked the end of the tragedy or the start of a prolonged political and legal storm remained unresolved.