Last Updated:December 11, 2025, 11:11 IST

According to officials, the trail began at Indian immigration desks, where authorities first confirmed that the brothers had exited the country and travelled to Phuket

The Luthra brothers are currently in Thai custody as legal formalities proceed.

Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, owners of Goa’s Birch By Romeo Lane nightclub where 25 people died in a blaze, have been detained in Thailand and are expected to be brought back to India soon, officials said. The two have been taken to detention centres in Phuket and Indian teams have established contact with Thai authorities as the process to secure their return has been initiated.

The swift, multi-agency operation stretching across two countries began after Indian immigration authorities flagged their departure and alerted their Thai counterparts, top government sources told CNN-News18.

According to officials, the trail began at Indian immigration desks, where authorities first confirmed that the brothers had exited the country and travelled to Phuket. “This tracking down started from Indian immigration,” a senior official said, adding that once their movement was verified, the information was immediately passed on to Thai police.

Thai immigration authorities subsequently confirmed the entry of the two individuals matching the details shared by India. With the confirmation in hand, Thai law-enforcement agencies launched a search across the island.

Sources said the brothers had shifted from their initial accommodation in Phuket, complicating the hunt. However, after conducting raids at multiple locations, Thai police eventually located and detained them. “They had changed one location but were finally found,” an official said.

The brothers are currently in Thai custody as legal formalities proceed. Authorities on both sides are now coordinating documentation required for India to bring them back. “The legal process is on and they will be deported soon,” a senior government source confirmed.

The move comes within hours of the Goa Police suspending the passports of the duo who fled to Thailand as soon as the fire broke out.

Probe into the devastating blaze—which began when the packed club was enjoying a dance performance and electronic fireworks were set off to spice up the event—has revealed that the owners booked flight tickets to Thailand even as emergency teams were battling to control the fire. In a post on X, police said the two booked the tickets on MakeMyTrip at 1.17am on December 7, shortly after the fire broke out at the nightclub.

A Rohini Court on Wednesday declined to grant immediate interim protection from arrest to the duo, even as they sought four weeks of anticipatory bail on medical grounds and told the court, “We’re also victims”.

A Goa local and whistle-blower, while speaking to CNN-News18, had said the brothers were “habitual offenders”. “The Luthra brothers are habitual offenders. They have high-profile connections with the authorities. All our complaints regarding the irregularities have been ignored. Only after we filed a petition with the high court, did we get support and justice…In that case, too, we had to file a contempt and refile the complaint,” said Ravi.

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