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Goa nightclub fire: Owners escape to Thailand, CBI to seek Interpol notice

Luthra brothers, the owners of the Goa nightclub, started from Delhi’s Hudson Lane, expanded footprint to 30 cities

Written by: Pavneet Singh Chadha, Alok Singh

3 min readNew Delhi, PanajiUpdated: Dec 9, 2025 02:39 PM IST

25 Dead in Fire at Birch by Romeo Lane restaurant in Arpora, Goa

Charred remains of the Birch by Romeo Lane restaurant after a fire broke out, claiming the lives of 25 people, in Arpora on Monday. (Source: ANI)

Brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of Birch by Romeo Lane, the Goa club where 25 people died in a fire late Saturday night, are believed to have left the country for Thailand, the Goa Police said in a statement.

“Soon after the institution of an FIR, police moved swiftly and dispatched a team to Delhi to conduct raids on the addresses of the accused Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra. Since they were not available, a notice under the appropriate sections of law was pasted on their house. By the evening of December 7 (Sunday), a lookout circular (LOC) was issued against them by the Bureau of Immigration at the request of the Goa Police,” the statement said.

A senior police officer said the brothers were in Delhi when the incident happened on Saturday midnight. “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 hours after the incident,” an officer said, adding that the Goa Police has reached out to the Interpol Division of the CBI to apprehend the two.

According to sources, the CBI is likely to request the Interpol to issue a Blue Corner Notice against the brothers. The Blue Notice is issued to collect additional information about a person’s identity, location or activities in relation to a criminal investigation.

Must Read | Goa nightclub fire started on first floor, most victims were trapped in basement with nowhere to go

On Monday, Saurabh Luthra posted a statement on Instagram saying: “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… The management further affirms that it shall extend every possible form of assistance, support and cooperation to the bereaved and affected individuals.”

Goa restaurant fire that claimed 25 lives | Saurabh Luthra, owner of Birch restaurant, issues a statement following the deadly fire that broke out in the restaurant on 7 December. pic.twitter.com/EFh9HZl35V

— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2025

India and Thailand have an extradition treaty, operational since 2015.

Pavneet Singh Chadha

Pavneet Singh Chadha is the Goa Correspondent of The Indian Express. His reporting focuses intensely on the state of Goa, covering major developments in politics, governance, and significant local events, which establishes his high degree of Expertise and Authority in the region. Expertise Geographic Expertise: As the Goa correspondent, Pavneet provides on-the-ground, comprehensive coverage of Goa's political, social, and cultural landscape, ensuring readers receive timely and localized insights. Key Coverage Focus: His recent work demonstrates deep investigative capabilities and a focus on high-impact stories, including: Investigative Reporting: Extensive coverage of complex events such as major incidents (e.g., the Goa nightclub fire), tracing the legal, political, and safety lapses involved. Government and Law Enforcement: Detailed tracking of police actions, deportations, and legal proceedings related to significant local cases. Policy and Governance: Reporting on the judiciary (e.g., Goa High Court flagging illegal structures) and the actions of government departments. He tweets @pub_neat ... Read More

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