Luthra brothers, owners of Goa club where 25 died, left for Thailand hours after killer blaze, police say

“When the Bureau of Immigration at Mumbai was contacted, it was found that both the accused had taken a flight to Phuket at 5.30 am on December 7, that is, immediately after the incident, which had taken place around midnight,” said an officer.

“Goa police have taken further steps to coordinate with the Interpol Division of the CBI to apprehend both Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra at the earliest,” the officer said.

Following the incident, police had lodged an FIR against the club’s owners, partners, manager, event organiser and other managing staff and charged the accused with culpable homicide.

The FIR flags a series of glaring lapses: absence of fire safety equipment, no emergency exit, and lack of required permissions/licences. Four people – the club’s chief general manager Rajiv Modak (49), gate manager Priyanshu Thakur (32), bar manager Rajveer Singhania (32), and general manager Vivek Singh (27) – were arrested on Sunday. On Monday, a fifth person, Bharat Singh, who ran daily operations at the club, was arrested from Delhi.

In a statement posted on Instagram on Monday, Saurabh Luthra said, “The management expresses profound grief and is deeply shaken by the tragic loss of lives resulting from the unfortunate incident at Birch. In this hour of irreparable sorrow and overwhelming distress, the management stands in unwavering solidarity with the families of the deceased as well as those injured and conveys its heartfelt condolences with utmost sincerity. The management further affirms that it shall extend every possible form of assistance, support and cooperation to the bereaved and affected individuals, as they navigate through this period of immense anguish and adversity.”