Goa, Dec 11 : In a major move that tightens the noose around the absconding owners of the Goa nightclub where 25 people died in a devastating fire, the government has suspended the passports of prime accused Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra. The step prevents the brothers currently believed to be in Thailand from travelling further and strengthens India’s efforts to secure their deportation.
Passports suspended to restrict escape routes
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, passports can be suspended under Section 10A of the Passports Act, 1967, rendering them invalid for international travel. Officials indicated that cancellation may follow if the duo does not comply with ongoing proceedings. The suspension effectively confines the brothers to Phuket and enhances the chances of their return through diplomatic and INTERPOL channels.
Timeline under probe: Flight booked hours after fire
Investigators are scrutinising the Luthras’ swift departure from India. Data accessed by the police shows the brothers logged into MakeMyTrip at 1:17 am on December 7 while emergency teams were still battling flames at the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub near Arpora. They boarded IndiGo flight 6E 1073 from Delhi to Phuket at 5:30 am the same morning.
Court denies anticipatory bail
Amid mounting questions over their timing of travel, the Luthras approached the Rohini Court in Delhi seeking transit anticipatory bail, claiming their Thailand visit was for professional meetings and not an attempt to evade the investigation. The court rejected interim protection, noting that the brothers had already left India within hours of the tragedy.
Delhi Police informed the court that a Non-Bailable Warrant had been issued, and a Blue Corner Notice is in place as agencies trace their movements overseas.
Co-owner brought to Goa; more arrests likely
Meanwhile, co-owner Ajay Gupta one of the four proprietors of the nightclub was brought to Goa on Thursday after being granted a 36-hour transit remand by a Delhi court. Several managerial staff members have already been arrested, and authorities have indicated that more arrests are possible as the reconstruction of events continues.
Safety lapses under scrutiny
The fire, which erupted around midnight on Sunday at the Baga-area nightclub, killed 25 people and injured six others. Police believe narrow entry and exit points may have trapped several victims. The administration has since demolished part of another Luthra-owned establishment in Vagator, while Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has assured that the inquiry report will be completed within eight days. Compensation is being processed, and safety audits across nightlife and entertainment venues have been intensified.