The legal team representing the owners of Goa’s nightclub Birch by Romeo Lane where a fire killed 25 people on December 6, said on Thursday that Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra were “law-abiding citizens” who had been “erroneously portrayed” and never intended to evade the law. The clarification came hours after the duo were detained in Thailand at the request of Indian authorities.
In a statement shared on Instagram, the brothers said they would return to India on December 11. “We…shall arrive in India on 11.12.2025 and submit ourselves to the jurisdiction of the police authorities and the judicial system of our country. We undertake to co-operate with the police authorities (sic),” the statement read.
“Our decision to return to our country is unrelated and uninfluenced by the legal remedies we have already availed or shall avail in future,” the statement added.
Anticipatory bail plea
Senior advocate Tanveer Ahmed Mir, part of Luthara brothers’ legal team, told The Indian Express that he had advised the brothers to return to India. Asked whether their detention would affect their transit anticipatory bail plea pending before a Delhi court, Mir said the bail hearing would proceed as scheduled.
The brothers had approached the Rohini court on December 10 seeking transit anticipatory bail, with senior advocate Sidharth Luthra arguing on their behalf. The plea is listed for hearing at 2 pm on Thursday before additional sessions judge Vandana. Luthra said the application “technically remains alive” despite their detention overseas.
Detained in Thailand
Meanwhile, Thai authorities detained the duo following a request from Indian agencies, and the process of deportation has begun. India and Thailand have an operational extradition treaty. A Blue Corner Notice issued by Interpol facilitated their apprehension.
According to Goa Police, the brothers booked tickets within 90 minutes of the fire and flew to Phuket at 5.30 am, hours after the incident occurred around midnight. The Goa Police, CBI and Interpol have been coordinating efforts to bring them back for questioning.