MEA Issues 7-Day Passport Notice to Luthra Brothers Who Fled to Thailand
Nightclub owners fled to Thailand hours after blaze that killed 25; passports may be impounded
- MEA issues notices to Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra asking why their passports should not be impounded.
- Brothers fled to Phuket hours after their Goa nightclub fire killed 25 people.
- Goa Police filed FIR under charges including culpable homicide and conspiracy.
- Further passport revocation action awaits details of court proceedings.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 9th Dec: The Ministry of External Affairs has issued a 7-day notice to nightclub owners Gaurav Luthra (44) and Saurabh Luthra (40) asking them to explain why their passports should not be impounded, after they fled to Thailand hours after a fire in their Goa establishment killed 25 people.
The move follows a request from the Goa Police, which registered an FIR against the brothers under charges including culpable homicide not amounting to murder and criminal conspiracy. The fire broke out around midnight on Saturday at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora, claiming the lives of five tourists and 20 staff members.
According to officials, the brothers left Delhi on an IndiGo flight to Phuket early Sunday morning—just hours after the blaze—prompting authorities to issue a lookout circular. When police teams visited their Delhi residence, they found that the duo had already fled.
The Regional Passport Office (RPO) in Delhi, acting on an adverse police report, sent formal notices to both men. The communication states:
“Submit an explanation why action should not be taken to impound the passport under the Passports Act, 1967… within 7 days.”
In its response to the Goa Police, the MEA confirmed that impounding notices had already been issued. It added that passport revocation under Section 10(3)(e) requires confirmation of pending criminal proceedings, and requested court details to enable further action.
