The two main accused in the devastating Goa nightclub fire that claimed 25 lives, owners Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, fled to Phuket, Thailand, just hours after the incident, Goa Police confirmed on Monday.
A senior police officer said the department has now reached out to the Interpol Division of the CBI to secure their arrest at the earliest.
The Tragedy
The massive fire broke out late on Saturday night (December 6, 2025) at a nightclub located about 25 km from Panaji.
Among the deceased were:
- 20 employees of the nightclub
- 5 tourists, including four from Delhi
Five others are currently undergoing treatment at Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).
Accused Fled Within Hours
Following the registration of an FIR, Goa Police requested a Look Out Circular (LOC), which was issued by the Bureau of Immigration on December 7.
When authorities at Mumbai Airport were contacted, it emerged that the Luthra brothers had boarded IndiGo flight 6E 1073 to Phuket at 5:30 a.m., barely five hours after the fire, indicating a deliberate attempt to evade arrest.
Raids Conducted, Accused Missing
A police team was sent to Delhi to conduct raids at the residential addresses of the accused.
Police said:
“Since they were not available, a notice under relevant sections of law was pasted at their residence. This clearly shows their intent to avoid investigation.”
Ongoing Investigation
- A four-member committee has been formed by the Goa government to probe the incident.
- Police have secured the transit remand of Bharat Kohli, an employee of the club, and are bringing him to Goa for further questioning.
- Postmortem of all 25 victims has been completed, and the bodies have been handed over to their families.
The Goa nightclub fire has sparked widespread outrage, raising serious questions about safety standards and regulatory oversight in the state’s nightlife sector.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
