Luthras’ passports under lens

The Goa Police on Tuesday said it has urged the central authorities to impound the passports issued to Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of a North Goa nightclub where a devastating fire claimed 25 lives last week, adding that one more accused was detained hours after a look out circular (LOC) was issued against him and another owner.

- Gerard de Souza [e-mail]

“The Goa Police has detained one more accused linked to this case, Ajay Gupta from New Delhi,” deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Nilesh Rane said.

The development came hours after the Goa Police issued the LOC against Ajay Gupta, a business partner of Saurabh Luthra, and Surinder Kumar Khosla, a British citizen. Deputy inspector general (DIG) of police Varsha Sharma told reporters that the two were also believed to own the nightclub, where the fire incident took place.

“We have issued look out notices against a total of four people — Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, against whom an Interpol Blue Corner notice has also been issued, Ajay Gupta and Surinder Kumar Khosla,” the DIG said, adding Khosla is believed to be out of the country.

According to police, Luthra brothers, the primary owners of the club Birch by Romeo Lane in North Goa, fled to Phuket in Thailand hours after the massive blaze Killed 25 people at the establishmenton Saturday night.