Goa Nightclub Owners Flee to Thailand Amidst Investigation into 25 Deaths

The investigation into the fire that claimed 25 lives at Goa's Birch by Romeo Lane intensified on Monday as officials confirmed that owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra had left India within hours of the incident.

The brothers boarded an IndiGo flight to Phuket early Sunday morning, even as police teams were mobilizing in response to the tragedy.

Police Track Exit Route and Issue Look Out Notice

According to Goa Police, the Luthra brothers took flight 6E 1073 from Delhi at 5.30 am on December 7. The first emergency call about the blaze came in at 12.04 am the same day, prompting officers to consider the timing of their departure highly suspicious. A police team later visited their Delhi residence on Monday but found it locked. By afternoon, authorities confirmed that the owners had already exited the country.

Deputy superintendent of police Nilesh Rane detailed the findings, stating, "The Bureau of Immigration at Mumbai was contacted and it was found that both the accused had taken 6E 1073 flight (New Delhi to Phuket) at 5.30 am on 7th December i.e. immediately after the incident which had taken place around midnight. It shows their intent to avoid police investigation."

He added that "The Goa police have taken further steps to coordinate with the Interpol Division of CBI to apprehend both Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra at the earliest."

Social Media Statement from Saurabh Luthra

Even as police traced their movements, Saurabh Luthra issued a statement on Instagram on Monday expressing remorse. "The management expresses profound grief and is deeply shaken by the tragic loss of lives resulting from the unfortunate incident at Birch," he wrote. He also pledged support to the families of the victims in "every possible form."

The Tragedy and Ongoing Inquiry

The fire, which erupted late Saturday in the Arpora nightclub, is suspected to have been caused by a cooking gas cylinder blast. Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant appointed a four member magisterial inquiry committee to determine the exact cause and fix accountability.
Among the victims were three sisters, Anita, Kamla, and Saroj Joshi, along with Vinod Kumar, the husband of another sister. Their cremations were conducted in Delhi on Monday.

Detentions and Crackdown on Linked Establishments

Delhi Police on Monday detained Bharat Kohli, an employee of the nightclub, and transported him to Goa for questioning. The state government also moved against other Romeo Lane properties, sealing two of them along with a beach shack and another club located in Vagator and Assagao as part of its enforcement drive.