Emergency travel certificates delay return of Luthra Brothers to India

The deportation of the Luthra brothers, owners of the infamous Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub where at least 25 people were killed in a fire, is awaiting the issuance of emergency travel certificates.

- SHIKHA SALARIA

These documents are required as the Delhi Regional Passport Office (RPO), under the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), has impounded the passports of both men.

TDG has learnt that the certificates can now only be issued on Monday, as Thai authorities do not work over the weekend.

Speaking to TDG, a senior official privy to the matter confirmed that while the Goa Police had initially planned to travel to Thailand to bring back the Luthra brothers, this is not possible. The deportation process requires the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take custody of the brothers, as the CBI is the nodal agency in such cases.