The two brothers connected to the deadly Goa nightclub fire are believed to have been detained in Thailand. People familiar with the matter said authorities have already started the process to deport them to India, where they will face trial. The blaze at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora on December 6 left 25 people dead.

India Moves to Cancel Their Passports

The external affairs ministry is reviewing a request from the Goa government to cancel the passports of Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra. The brothers co-own the nightclub and left India shortly after the incident. Earlier, the CBI had requested an Interpol Blue Corner notice against them to help track their movements.

Brothers Booked Flights While Firefighters Battled Flames

Investigators found that the brothers booked flight tickets to Thailand while emergency teams were still trying to control the fire. Officials said Gaurav and Saurabh purchased the tickets on MakeMyTrip at 1:17 am on December 7. At that moment, firefighters and police were struggling to put out the blaze and rescue trapped guests. One official said, “Even as the Goa Police and Goa Fire Services were battling to douse the fire and rescue the people trapped inside, the Luthra brothers were preparing to flee the country.”

Delhi Court Rejects Plea for Protection

Earlier on Wednesday, a New Delhi court rejected the brothers’ request for interim protection from arrest. Their lawyers argued that the brothers had not escaped but had travelled for business. They also insisted that the Luthras held licences for the club but were not its owners. Additionally, they said the club’s employees handled daily operations, which meant the brothers should not be held accountable.

Five Staff Members Already Arrested

Meanwhile, Goa Police have arrested five staff members and managers linked to the nightclub. The fire broke out around midnight and spread quickly across the venue, which is located about 25 km from Panaji. Indian authorities are now coordinating with officials in Thailand as the deportation process moves ahead.

Government Speeds Up Inquiry and Compensation

Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant said the inquiry report will be completed within eight days. The state has started distributing compensation to the families of the victims. At the same time, officials are tightening safety checks across entertainment venues to prevent similar tragedies.