The swift plan to deport the Luthra brothers—Saurabh and Gaurav—from Thailand has hit a temporary roadblock. That happened. Due to an ironic twist of bureaucracy, the very action taken to prevent their escape has caused a delay, pushing their expected arrival in India to no earlier than Monday.
The brothers, wanted in India to face charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder following the fatal Goa nightclub fire, were detained in Phuket. Indian authorities successfully suspended their passports to prevent them from fleeing to a third country, but this move has now left them without the required valid travel documents to legally leave Thailand.
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The Outpass Puzzle
To resolve this, the Indian embassy in Bangkok must issue an ‘outpass’ or an Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC). This is the new logistical hurdle, and it could take up to 36 hours alone.
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Co-ordination Required: Issuing this ETC requires intense coordination between the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Thai government. They need to establish the identity and confirm the fugitive status of the brothers.
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Double Paperwork: The Indian government can’t just print the ETC. Thai authorities need to complete their internal paperwork first. Then, once the ETCs are generated, Thai immigration officials must complete a second round of paperwork to formally transfer custody of the brothers to the waiting Goa Police team.
Thai authorities take a grim view of foreigners without valid passports or those who overstay, even if the circumstances are extenuating, those too.
The Background of the Chase
The club owners fled to Phuket, Thailand, on the morning of December 6, booking tickets at 1:17 am—while their club was still burning, let’s be real. A Blue Corner Notice from Interpol and the subsequent suspension of their passports by the MEA finally led to their detention in Thailand.
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Deportation vs. Extradition: India opted for deportation, a faster administrative route that bypasses the long judicial process of the 2013 India-Thailand Extradition Treaty, which requires proving “double criminality.” The passport suspension was a necessary move to secure the deportation track, but it inadvertently caused this delay.
The Fire Investigation: A “Tinderbox”
Meanwhile, the investigation into the fire at ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ has revealed critical safety lapses that contributed to the 25 deaths:
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Flammable Material: Widespread use of highly flammable construction and decor materials.
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Safety Lapses: Complete absence of fire extinguishers and a severe lack of fire exits.
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Access Issues: The club’s entrance was too narrow for fire-fighting vehicles, forcing firefighters to park 400 metres away, severely complicating rescue efforts.
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Regulatory Failure: The club was operating without a crucial fire safety clearance.
The whole setup was essentially a tinderbox, and the crackdown on accountability is ongoing.
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