New Delhi, 16 Dec 

The Goa Police on Tuesday formally arrested nightclub owners Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra from the immigration control area of the New Delhi International Airport after they were deported from Thailand, officials said. A Goa Police team was present at the airport to take the brothers into custody upon their arrival.

The Luthra brothers are the owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in North Goa, where a massive fire on 6 December claimed 25 lives, including tourists and staff members, and left several others injured. The accused had allegedly fled to Phuket the morning after the incident.

After India moved to suspend their passports, Thai authorities detained the brothers at a resort in Phuket and initiated deportation proceedings. An Indian law enforcement team coordinated with Thai officials to complete the formalities, leading to their deportation to India on Tuesday morning.

The brothers will be produced before the Patiala House Court in New Delhi, after which the Goa Police will take them to Goa for further legal proceedings.

An extradition treaty between India and Thailand has been in force since 2015. Thai officials maintained that due process was followed, resulting in a lawful and prompt handover of the accused as part of cooperation between the two countries.

The Goa Police registered a criminal case on 7 December at the Arpora Anjuna Police Station in North Goa under Sections 105, 125, 125(a), 125(b) and 287, read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

According to the FIR, the accused allegedly organised a fire show at the Birch by Romeo Lane restaurant on 6 December without adequate precautions, fire safety equipment or emergency evacuation measures. It further states that despite knowing the venue lacked emergency exit doors on the ground and deck floors, the fire show was conducted, leading to the fatal blaze.