Goa Police are investigating the movements of two Delhi-based brothers who reportedly left for Phuket within five hours of a nightclub blaze that killed 25 people in Baga. According to officials, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of the club where the incident occurred, flew out early Sunday morning, shortly before police began searching for them.
Investigators said the brothers boarded an IndiGo flight around 5.30 a.m. on Sunday, hours after the fire broke out just past midnight. A Look Out Circular was issued later the same evening. Police teams visited their residences in Delhi on Monday and pasted notices after failing to locate them.
Authorities have sought assistance from the Central Bureau of Investigation to initiate an Interpol notice in an effort to trace the pair. Their departure, police said, is now a central element of the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire and the response that followed.
The blaze claimed 25 lives, including tourists and staff members, while six others are under treatment for injuries. Officials said post-mortem examinations were completed on Monday and the bodies have been handed over to families. The identities of seven of the deceased are still being confirmed.
Police noted that the club, situated near the Arpora River backwaters, had a narrow entry and exit route, making evacuation difficult for those inside when the fire spread. The venue is located in Baga, a popular stretch known for its nightlife and proximity to one of Goa’s busiest beaches.
Four individuals linked to the establishment were arrested and produced before the Bardez District Court late Sunday night. All four managers were remanded to six days of police custody. They are being questioned at Anjuna Police Station, where officials said investigators spent hours examining their accounts of the events leading up to the fire and the current status of the absconding owners.
In another development, Goa Police secured transit remand of accused Bharat Kohli from Delhi to bring him to the state for further questioning. Officials said this forms part of the wider investigation into operational practices at the club and the sequence of events before the blaze.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed distress over the deaths and announced financial assistance of ₹2 lakh each to the families of those killed and ₹50,000 to the injured.
Police officials said preliminary information suggests the fire may have been triggered by a cylinder explosion, though investigations continue to determine the exact cause.
