The probe into the Goa nightclub fire, which killed at least 25 people on December 6, shows that owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra booked tickets to Thailand while the blaze was still being controlled. Records show they used MakeMyTrip at 1:17 AM and later took an IndiGo flight to Phuket at 5:30 AM. The brothers have sought transit anticipatory bail to avoid arrest on their return. Another owner, Ajay Gupta, has been detained, while co-owner Surinder Kumar Khosla is under an LOC. Police also found the brothers used a SIM card issued in a former driver’s name and that their luxury cars are missing. (PC: X)

Kerala has opened its first Gen Z post office at CMS College in Kottayam. It works as an extension of the Kottayam Head Post Office. The new facility is designed to attract young users. It offers digital services, QR code features, and modern design elements. The space also includes better seating, bright lighting, and updated counters. Officials say the aim is to make postal services more friendly and useful for students and young adults. The post office will help users access services faster and with more comfort. It is part of a plan to modernise post offices across the State. (PC: The Hindu)

The Goa government has formally requested the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to revoke the passports of nightclub co-owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, following the deadly fire at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora, which killed 25 people. The brothers left India soon after the incident, prompting the CBI to seek an Interpol Blue Corner notice. The MEA confirmed it is examining the request under the Passports Act of India. A Delhi court refused interim protection from arrest for the duo, while their lawyers argued they were only licensees, not owners, and uninvolved in daily operations. Meanwhile, Goa police have arrested five managers and staff members linked to the tragedy. (PC: NDTV)

One of the main witnesses in the Sandeshkhali violence case, Bholanath Ghosh, was critically injured when a speeding truck collided with his car on the Basanti Highway near Basirhat, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal. Ghosh’s younger son, Satyajit Ghosh (32), and their driver, Sahanur Molla (27), died on the spot after the collision. Eyewitnesses said the truck rammed the car head‑on, dragged it several metres, and dumped it in a nearby water body; the truck driver fled the scene. The family suspects foul play, alleging the crash was orchestrated to silence Ghosh ahead of his court appearance in ongoing cases against jailed TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan. (PC: ANI)

The Delhi High Court (HC) raised serious concerns over the IndiGo flight cancellations, asking how airfares for some routes skyrocketed to ₹39,000. While acknowledging the corrective measures taken by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the court questioned why the situation was allowed to escalate to such an extent, causing immense inconvenience to thousands of stranded passengers. The HC emphasized the need for stricter oversight and accountability from both airlines and regulators. Authorities were directed to ensure normal operations resume promptly and submit a report on the inquiry into the crisis. (PC: HT Photo)

At a rally in Puducherry, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) aide Bussy Anand was cut off mid-speech when a female IPS officer snatched the microphone, warning “40 people have died.” The meeting was held under tight security and strict conditions — crowd size capped at 5,000 with QR-coded entries only — in response to the fatal 2025 Karur stampede. A man carrying a handgun was also detained at the gate, raising further security concerns. The rally, first since the tragedy, underscores continuing tensions over crowd-control and political mobilisation. 

A week before the verdict in the 2017 actress assault case, a signed anonymous letter claimed to know the outcome — naming which accused would be acquitted or convicted. The Kerala High Court Advocates’ Association (KHCAA) forwarded the letter to the Chief Justice, calling it a “serious breach of confidentiality” and demanding a formal investigation into how the verdict details leaked. The letter alleged the verdict in Dileep’s case was pre-decided: it predicted his discharge along with two others, with only six of the 12 original accused convicted. The episode has raised concerns about judicial transparency and the integrity of sensitive court proceedings. (PC: The Hindu)

The Luthra brothers — co-owners of the Goa nightclub Birch by Romeo Lane — have filed for four-week transit anticipatory bail in a Delhi court, claiming they travelled to Thailand for work and are willing to return and cooperate with investigations. They denied running the club’s day-to-day operations, calling themselves only licensees, and argued they didn’t “flee,” but left for a pre-planned business trip before the tragic fire. The court, however, questioned the maintainability of their plea — since transit anticipatory bail typically requires appellant’s presence in India — and declined to grant interim relief, asking the state to respond. The plea comes as investigators, aided by Interpol Blue-Corner notice and passport-impounding orders, intensify efforts to bring the brothers back from Phuket to face charges in connection with the fire that killed 25 people. (PC: Reuters)

The Luthra brothers have told a Delhi court that they are “also victims” of the Goa nightclub fire that killed 25 people. Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra fled to Thailand after the incident and later asked the court for anticipatory bail so they could return to India. Their lawyers said the club was run by partners and managers, not by the brothers. They argued that criminal blame cannot be placed on them as they were not present when the fire started. The court refused immediate relief and asked police to file a reply. The case will be heard again tomorrow. (PC: NDTV)

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sharply questioned the Centre over the IndiGo “crisis” that left thousands stranded. The bench asked, “How can a ticket cost ₹35,000 or ₹39,000?” and said the sudden fare surge caused “trouble and harassment” to passengers. The court also asked how the situation was allowed to “worsen to such an extent”. It noted that a government committee is already probing the issue and directed the Centre to submit its report by January 22. The judges said their remarks were to ensure “public interest” and told authorities to normalise operations and maintain enough pilot strength. (PC: HT)