Goa Nightclub Fire: MEA Evaluating Request to Revoke Passports of Co-Owners as Probe Intensifies

In the aftermath of the devastating fire at a popular nightclub in Goa, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is now actively considering the Goa government’s formal request to revoke the passports of the club’s co-owners, who are currently absconding. The move comes as investigators uncover multiple lapses in safety compliance, licensing, and emergency preparedness at the establishment.

According to officials familiar with the ongoing inquiry, state authorities submitted a detailed communication to the MEA highlighting the urgent need to restrict the international movement of the accused. “The co-owners have not been cooperating with the investigation, and revoking their passports may become essential to ensure their presence for questioning,” a senior official said.

The fire, which claimed several lives and left many injured, has raised serious questions about regulatory oversight in Goa’s nightlife sector. Preliminary reports suggest that the club may have been operating with faulty electrical systems, blocked fire exits, and expired safety certifications—issues that residents and local groups say have been ignored for years.

With mounting public anger, political leaders across party lines have demanded strict action, not only against the club’s management but also against government departments allegedly responsible for overlooking repeated violations. The Goa Police have already registered cases of negligence and culpable homicide, and investigations are ongoing to determine whether the owners attempted to flee the country.

If the MEA proceeds with passport cancellation, it would mark one of the strongest measures taken so far in the case, signaling the government’s intent to ensure accountability. Meanwhile, families of the victims continue to call for a judicial probe, stressing that only a transparent investigation will reveal how such a tragedy was allowed to occur.