Goa nightclub fire probe reveals owners booked Thailand flight as blaze raged
The investigation into the devastating fire at a Goa nightclub, which left at least 25 people dead on December 6, has uncovered a startling timeline suggesting that two of the establishment’s owners were arranging their escape even as emergency crews struggled to save lives, media reports said.
According to officials, brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra logged into the MakeMyTrip platform at 1:17 AM on December 7, barely hours after the blaze erupted at the Arpora-based ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ club.
At that point, Goa Police and fire services personnel were still scrambling to control the inferno and rescue patrons trapped inside.
Immigration records later confirmed that the brothers boarded an IndiGo flight 6E 1073 to Phuket, which departed Delhi at 5:30 AM, indicating a swift and deliberate attempt to leave the country.
While still in Thailand, the Luthras moved a transit anticipatory bail plea before a Rohini Court in Delhi, seeking four weeks’ protection from arrest and interim relief to allow them safe return without immediate detention.
Meanwhile, Goa Police stationed in Delhi produced Ajay Gupta, another co-owner of the nightclub, before a magistrate.
Gupta had earlier been untraceable, leading authorities to issue a Look Out Circular.
He was detained and, after a medical examination, will be transported to Goa for further questioning.
A fourth owner, Surinder Kumar Khosla, a British national, is also under an active LOC.
Investigators have uncovered fresh irregularities involving a mobile number used by the Luthra brothers.
The SIM card was registered under the name of Ram Hari Singh, a former driver employed by the family. When contacted, Singh said he last worked for Saurabh Luthra in 2020 and had no knowledge that any SIM existed in his name.
Police sources also revealed discrepancies involving vehicles linked to the family. While the Luthras reportedly owned three cars in 2020, their fleet had expanded to several luxury vehicles before their departure.
All these vehicles are now unaccounted for, and investigators suspect they may have been moved deliberately as part of a planned escape.
The family's newly built multi-crore residence in Goa has been deserted since the fire. When police inspected the property, they found it empty except for a lone dog.
An Interpol Blue Corner Notice against Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra remains active as the probe continues to widen, with investigators examining the circumstances surrounding their sudden departure and the growing trail of irregularities linked to the horrific nightclub tragedy.
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