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Goa Nightclub Fire Incident: The fire that broke out in the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ club in Arpora, Goa took 25 lives, but the real culprit Surinder Kumar Khosla is still sitting in London, away from the police. Land owner Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar has alleged that influential people helped Khosla to escape. Although the Luthra brothers are behind bars, extradition efforts have been intensified to bring Khosla to India. Know how the long arm of the law will now reach the UK?
Panaji. The massive fire incident that took place at the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ club located in Arpora village of Goa had shocked the entire country. 25 innocent people had lost their lives in this accident, but now a sensational twist has come in this case which has raised questions on the functioning of the state government and police administration. The real owner of the land, Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar, has alleged in an explosive interview that the main villain of this entire scandal, Surinder Kumar Khosla, is still free and some very influential people are giving him protection.
Was there collusion with the system?
Pradeep Amonkar’s claims have also brought a boil in Goa politics. He says that Surinder Kumar Khosla was deliberately given a way to escape from India. According to Amonkar, when the whole matter was hot, Khosla easily crossed the country’s border and reached Britain. Amonkar raised the question that when the police caught eight big names like Saurabh Luthra, Gaurav Luthra and Ajay Gupta, then why was there so much delay in tracking Khosla’s location?
Luthra Brothers behind bars, but main link missing
Goa Police has so far taken major action in this matter and arrested the co-owners of the club, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, after deporting them from Thailand. Ajay Gupta and five other employees have also been detained along with him. The investigation revealed that safety standards were ignored in the club and due to illegal construction, fire extinguishing equipment was not working at the spot. However, after the arrest of Luthra Brothers, the police admitted that they were overseeing the operations, but Khosla is said to be the brain behind the documentary and financial conspiracies.
Police and government’s strategy regarding extradition from UK
Now the biggest question is how will Surinder Kumar Khosla be brought back to India? According to senior Goa Police officials, the process of issuing ‘Red Corner Notice’ against Khosla is in the final stages. Preparations are being made to send the extradition request to the UK Government in coordination with the Home Ministry and the Foreign Ministry. Police sources say that they are examining Khosla’s bank accounts and digital footprints to ascertain his exact whereabouts. Despite there being an extradition treaty between India and the UK, this legal process can be long and complicated.
What will the investigating agencies do now?
The victims’ families appeal for justice. For the families of the 25 people who lost their lives in the accident, this news is like a deep wound that the main accused is living a life of luxury in a foreign country. Amonkar has demanded that the matter be investigated by a central agency so that the faces of those ‘influential people’ who helped Khosla escape can also be exposed. Amonkar also claimed that he had evidence that proved that there was a long web of corruption in the running of the club.
At present, there is huge pressure on Goa Police. The Chief Minister’s Office has assured strict action in this case, but Khosla’s return will prove to be the last stop of justice in this case. All eyes are on what will be the next step of the Indian government in this legal battle of extradition. Will the culprit of 25 deaths ever stand in the dock of an Indian court, or will he join the list of ‘Vijay Mallya’ and ‘Nirav Modi’ and keep roaming on the streets of London? Only time will tell.
