The CBI is pushing Interpol for a Blue Notice against the Luthra brothers, owners of the Goa nightclub where 25 died. Find out what a Blue Notice is, why it’s not an arrest warrant, and the extradition strategy against the fugitives in Thailand.
The owners of that burnt-down Goa nightclub, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra? They slipped out to Phuket just hours after the fire killed 25 people. That happened. And then the massive manhunt followed.
Now, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)—India’s key contact with Interpol—is pulling out the international tools. They are “vehemently pursuing” Interpol, headquartered in Lyon, to quickly issue a Blue Notice against the Luthra brothers.
What is a Blue Notice? (And Why Not Red?)
The thing is, Interpol uses seven different color-coded notices. The one everyone knows is the Red Notice.
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Red Notice: This is the big one. It means: Locate and Arrest a person for prosecution or to serve a sentence. It’s an international request for detention.
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Blue Notice: This is different. The CBI is pushing for this first. A Blue Notice is essentially an Information Gathering alert. It tells law enforcement in all member countries (including Thailand, where the brothers are) to collect details about the person: their identity, their exact location, and their activities in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation.
It’s not an arrest warrant. It helps countries track a suspect globally so they can’t just disappear and “flee to some other country.”
The Strategy to Bring Them Back
The CBI’s Global Operations Centre has a history here, locating over 200 fugitives recently. They are using a clear, multi-step process against the Luthras.
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Blue Notice: Track their movements in Thailand. Confirm their location and prevent further escape.
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Arrest Warrant: Meanwhile, officials are working to secure a formal arrest warrant from a Goa court.
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Extradition: Once that warrant is secured, they will share it with the Thai authorities via the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
India and Thailand have a formal extradition treaty in place since 2015. Cooperation has been strong, giving investigators confidence that the Luthra brothers “will soon be brought back.” They are being geolocated right now with the help of the CBI and other central agencies.
The Escape Timeline
The brothers fled right as the tragedy was unfolding.
The blaze at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub broke out around 11.45 PM on Saturday. The FIR for culpable homicide was filed Sunday morning. But the police found out the businessmen had boarded an IndiGo flight to Phuket at 5.30 AM on Sunday—just about six hours after the deadly blaze. They slipped out moments before a Lookout Circular (LOC) could be issued against them.
Now, with a Blue Notice, the pressure is on. It’s an ongoing, complex international effort to secure justice for the 25 victims, many of whom were staff members, let’s be real.
End…
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