The BJP has criticised Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi for his upcoming Berlin trip during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, calling him a “Leader of Paryatan” and accusing him of avoiding parliamentary responsibilities. The Congress responded strongly, saying the attacks are politically motivated and questioned why similar scrutiny is not applied to the Prime Minister’s foreign visits.

BJP questions timing of Rahul Gandhi’s foreign visit

Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to travel to Berlin from December 15 to 20 to attend an event of the Indian Overseas Congress, even as the Parliament session runs until December 19. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla attacked him, alleging that Gandhi prefers travelling abroad over addressing issues in Parliament.
He claimed Rahul Gandhi was “a non-serious politician” and accused him of going abroad to “defame India”.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi also questioned Gandhi’s absence during key parliamentary proceedings, describing him as a “part-time” leader who later complains about not getting opportunities to speak.

Congress counters, cites PM Modi’s foreign travel record

Priyanka Gandhi dismissed the BJP’s criticism, saying the Prime Minister himself spends significant time travelling abroad. She questioned why Rahul Gandhi’s official visit was being targeted despite him serving as Leader of the Opposition.

Deputy LoP Gaurav Gogoi alleged the attacks were aimed at diverting attention from Rahul Gandhi’s questions on alleged electoral irregularities, adding that the ruling party lacked answers.

Indian Overseas Congress calls it a major outreach initiative

The Indian Overseas Congress said Rahul Gandhi’s visit would focus on engaging with the Indian diaspora and strengthening the organisation globally.
According to the group, Gandhi will interact with IOC presidents from various European countries to discuss party strengthening, NRI concerns and expanding the outreach of the Congress ideology.

Ajay Gupta, co-owner of the Goa nightclub where a devastating fire killed 25 people, has been detained in Delhi and maintains he held only a partnership role in the establishment. He was taken into custody after admitting himself to a hospital, even as two other owners remain missing.

Gupta taken into custody amid widening probe

Ajay Gupta, one of the owners of the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub in Goa, was detained on Tuesday after authorities located him at the Institute of Brain and Spine in Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar. Officials said Gupta arrived at the hospital in an Innova car with a Haryana registration number.

As he was being taken away, Gupta told media, “I’m only a partner and nothing else.”

A lookout notice had earlier been issued against him after a Goa Police team failed to trace him at his Delhi residence. Gupta is expected to be presented before the Saket Court, while Goa Police are seeking a transit remand so he can be taken back to the state for further interrogation.

Luthra brothers still absconding, blue corner notice issued

Two other co-owners, Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, remain untraceable. Investigators found that they boarded a flight to Phuket around 5:30 am on Sunday, just hours after the tragedy.
The Delhi and Goa Police teams are now conducting searches at locations linked to them, including suspected safe houses.

What happened at the nightclub?

A musical night at the club turned tragic when flames engulfed the venue, with videos showing thick smoke and fire rapidly spreading. Another clip captured a dancer performing to ‘Mehbooba Mehbooba’ moments before the ceiling caught fire.

Although the exact cause has not been confirmed, initial suspicion points to fireworks used during a performance.

Police have registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, negligence and acts endangering life. Four staff members, including the manager, have already been arrested.

Officials from departments responsible for issuing licences and permits to the establishment have also been summoned to examine possible procedural lapses.

A beach shack linked to Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra — the proprietors of the Goa nightclub where 25 people were killed in a massive fire last week — is set to be demolished as authorities intensify action against the absconding brothers. The Goa Chief Minister’s office confirmed that the structure, operating under the name Romeo Lane in Vagator, will be brought down after 3 pm.

The demolition comes days after the nightclub Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora turned into a death trap, with investigations now revealing severe safety lapses at the venue.

Brothers fled to Thailand hours after fire

According to police, the Luthra brothers boarded an IndiGo flight to Phuket just three hours after the fire incident, a move officials believe was aimed at evading arrest. They have since been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder and conspiracy, but have not contacted investigators.

Police discovered their disappearance when they reached their Delhi residence during the probe. Authorities have now confirmed that Interpol has issued a Blue Corner Notice to help trace their location and movement.

Rapid rise in hospitality before disaster

The brothers’ entry into the hospitality business began in 2016 with the launch of Mama’s Buoi in Delhi’s Civil Lines. The success of this venture paved the way for Dramebaaz and later Romeo Lane, which soon became a popular nightclub chain. They eventually expanded to Goa with Birch by Romeo Lane, promoted online as the region’s first “island club”.

Serious safety lapses revealed

Investigators noted that the Goa nightclub’s bamboo-heavy décor significantly accelerated the spread of the fire. Access to the club was restricted to a narrow pathway built over a small lake, which served as both entry and exit — a bottleneck that hindered evacuation and prevented fire engines from reaching the site. Firefighters were forced to park nearly 400 metres away.

Further inspection found that the establishment lacked fire safety clearance. No working fire extinguishers or alarm systems were present, despite the venue hosting over 100 people on peak nights.