Phuket –
Phuket Immigration officers have arrested two Indian nationals wanted on Interpol warrants for their alleged involvement in a fatal fire incident at an entertainment venue in India. The incident reportedly caused multiple deaths, prompting Indian authorities to issue international arrest warrants as the suspects fled the country.
On December 6th, 2025, a devastating fire broke out just before midnight at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, Goa, India, during a crowded “Bollywood Banger Night” event featuring indoor fireworks and a live DJ performance, resulting in the deaths of 25 people, primarily 21 staff members trapped in the basement kitchen due to a lack of proper fire exits, along with four tourists, including members of the same family from Delhi, and injuring around 50 others.
Preliminary investigations pointed to sparks from electrical fireworks igniting flammable materials as the likely cause, exacerbated by alleged safety violations such as missing fire clearances, narrow access roads delaying emergency response, and structural issues; in the aftermath, authorities arrested several staff and managers, issued warrants for the owners who initially fled to Thailand before being deported and detained, ordered fire safety audits across Goa’s nightlife venues, banned indoor pyrotechnics in tourist establishments, and prompted widespread calls for stricter enforcement of building regulations amid India’s history of similar deadly incidents in entertainment spaces.
Phuket Officers told the Phuket Express that the men, identified as Mr. Saurabh and Mr. Gaurav, both Indian citizens, were believed to have entered Thailand in an attempt to evade capture. The Foreign Affairs Division notified Phuket Immigration that the pair had recently arrived in the kingdom, triggering a coordinated investigation.
Immigration investigators traced the suspects to a hotel in Patong, Phuket. This week, a Phuket Immigration operations team moved in to verify their identities and take them into custody.
Both suspects were detained without incident and brought in for questioning. Their permission to stay in Thailand was subsequently revoked, and authorities have initiated deportation procedures to return them to India for prosecution.
The operation reflects the broader policy direction of the Royal Thai Police and the Immigration Bureau who has stated strict enforcement against foreign nationals involved in illegal work, unlawful business operations, and transnational criminal activity. Officials aim to curb behaviors that cause public nuisance, threaten community safety, or undermine legitimate tourism and business sectors.
Phuket Immigration stated that proactive enforcement is essential to protecting residents, safeguarding tourists, and maintaining confidence in Phuket as a safe and reliable international destination.
