After Luthra brothers – Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra, wanted in connection with the tragic fire at Goa’s Birch Hotel, were detained in Thailand, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant reaffirmed that strict action will be taken against them, asserting that the government is committed to securing justice for the 25 people who lost their lives in the tragedy.
The Chief Minister stated that teams from the Goa Police and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will travel to Thailand to deport the accused to India.
Speaking to reporters, Chief Minister Sawant said, “We will bring them to Goa as soon as possible. Teams of the Goa Police and the CBI will go there (to Thailand). Henceforth, any violation and encroachment will not be tolerated. Two suspended women government officers are cooperating with the investigation, while one is not; action will be taken accordingly… To ensure such an accident doesn’t occur again, our enforcement team, comprising senior officers, fire safety officers, and building construction officers, is visiting various clubs and restaurants. The clubs where serious violations are found will be closed.”
The FIR in this case states that on December 6, Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, the accused persons, had organised a fire show at the restaurant Birch by Romeo Lane, Goa’s Arpora, without taking proper precautions and without providing fire safety equipment and other safety measures.
The fire show resulted in a serious fire, due to which 25 innocent people succumbed to death and also caused serious injuries to tourists and staff.
The subjects, Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, and others, despite knowing that the restaurant does not have emergency exit doors on the ground or deck floors for evacuation in case of emergency, organised the fire show.
During the investigation, it was also revealed that the subjects Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, along with other accused, were operating the said restaurant without obtaining the necessary permissions/licenses from the competent authorities.
