The Goa Police have suspended the passports of Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, principal owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, where a catastrophic fire on December 6 claimed 25 lives. The brothers fled India within hours of the incident, prompting swift action from authorities. Their passports have been suspended under Section 10A of the Passports Act, 1967, rendering them temporarily invalid and preventing further international travel. Officials indicate that cancellation of passports is the next likely step.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, passport suspension is a legal measure typically invoked in criminal cases to restrict the movement of accused individuals. In the Luthras' case, the suspension aims to block any onward travel from Thailand, where they are currently located in Phuket. The brothers already face multiple lookout notices, an Interpol Blue Corner Notice, and expanding police scrutiny as investigators piece together the events leading to the tragedy.
The investigation into the nightclub fire continues to intensify, with police arresting Ajay Gupta, one of the four co-owners of Birch by Romeo Lane. Gupta, who claims to be only a “sleeping partner,” was taken into custody as authorities attempt to identify lapses in safety standards and operational negligence. Of the 25 victims, 20 were staff members while five were tourists, raising questions about emergency preparedness and management accountability at the establishment.
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Details emerging from the probe show that the Luthra brothers booked their flight to Thailand at 1:17 AM on December 7, even as fire services were battling the blaze and rescuing victims. Immigration records confirm that they boarded IndiGo flight 6E 1073 from Delhi to Phuket at 5:30 AM. Their quick departure has intensified suspicions of attempted evasion, leading to further legal action and calls for their immediate return to face interrogation.
On Wednesday, the brothers failed to secure interim protection from arrest in a Delhi court. They have requested four weeks of transit anticipatory bail, claiming they need safeguards against being taken into custody upon landing in India. They are also seeking interim protection from custodial interrogation. However, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has taken a firm stance, stating in an exclusive interview that the accused will be apprehended no matter where they are hiding. “Whether it is Thailand or anywhere else, we will pick them up from there and put them behind bars,” he asserted, underscoring the government’s intent to ensure accountability.
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