Goa Nightclub Blaze: Co-owner Ajay Gupta Detained Four Days After Tragedy That Killed 25

Goa Police Detain Nightclub Co-owner Ajay Gupta Four Days After Deadly Fire.

In a significant development, Goa Police have detained Ajay Gupta, one of the four co-owners of the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub, where a massive fire on December 7 claimed 25 lives. Gupta, who had been evading authorities since the tragedy, was apprehended in Delhi following the issuance of a Look-Out Circular.

A Goa Police spokesperson told PTI on Tuesday night, “We have detained Ajay Gupta, one of the owners of the nightclub. He is the sixth person to be held in connection with the case. A Look-Out Circular had been issued after our team could not trace him at his Delhi residence.” Gupta will be formally arrested once procedures to bring him to Goa are completed.

Since the fire, police have already arrested the nightclub’s chief general manager Rajiv Modak, general manager Vivek Singh, bar manager Rajiv Singhania, gate manager Riyanshu Thakur, and employee Bharat Kohli.

Authorities have also issued a Look-Out Circular for another co-owner, Surinder Kumar Khosla. Two other owners, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, have fled to Phuket, Thailand, prompting a Blue Corner Notice against them. Hours after the blaze, Saurabh Luthra posted on Instagram expressing grief and condolences:

“The management expresses profound grief and stands in unwavering solidarity with the families of the deceased and the injured.”

The investigation further revealed that another Romeo Lane property at Vagator Beach violated fire and safety norms and was illegally constructed on government land. Following this, the property was demolished on Tuesday under orders from Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.