The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is examining the Goa government’s request to revoke the passports of Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, who ran the nightclub Birch by Romeo Lane, where a fire killed 25 people in North Goa’s Arpora village late Saturday night.
Goa police had on Monday written to the regional passport officer (RPO) in Goa, requesting “urgent revocation of the passports” of the two accused, who are believed to be in Thailand. In a communique to the Goa police, Nijo Varghese, RPO, Goa, replied, “The passports of the accused were issued by RPO Delhi. Considering the seriousness of the matter, RPO Delhi has already issued impounding notices to both passport holders. To enable further action on revocation, the details of the case pending before the court may kindly be forwarded to RPO Delhi.”
The Indian Express has learnt that the Goa police have also written to the RPO Goa to revoke the passport of Ajay Gupta, a partner in the club, who was detained on Tuesday in Delhi. Gupta was produced before a court in Delhi on Wednesday, with the police seeking transit demand to bring him to Goa.
Goa police, meanwhile, said the brothers booked tickets to Thailand to flee the country within 90 minutes of the blaze.
In a statement, police said the investigation has revealed that the Luthra brothers booked the tickets at 1:17 am on December 7. “While Goa police and fire services were battling the blaze and rescuing those trapped, the accused were preparing to flee the country,” the statement alleged.
The brothers moved the Rohini court in Delhi on Wednesday, seeking transit anticipatory bail. Their counsel told the court that they did not “flee” to Thailand, but had gone there for business. The court has kept the matter for Thursday.
The police had earlier dismissed any allegations of an “assisted escape”, stating that police teams were at the site throughout the night, carrying out rescue operations and helping the trapped victims.
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According to the technical fire safety incident report of the Fire Department, information regarding a fire outbreak at the premises was received by the Mapusa fire control room at 11:45 pm on December 6. The fire was subsequently brought under control and extinguished by 4:45 am, the report said.
Five people – all from management of the club – have been arrested.
Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant, meanwhile, said the government will cancel the licences of establishments that do not comply with the fire safety norms. “The tourism season will continue. Safety and security of visitors is our priority, and we are working to ensure that,” he said.
The tourism department has already demolished a portion of another club owned by the Luthras, Romeo Lane in Vagator, which had been sealed by revenue authorities on Sunday. To ensure public safety, the district magistrates of North and South Goa banned fireworks and pyrotechnic effects inside nightclubs, bars, hotels, restaurants, resorts and event venues for 60 days.
