New Delhi: Goa Police on Tuesday detained Ajay Gupta, one of the four owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, where a massive fire killed 25 people on Saturday night. Police confirmed that Gupta had been traced in Delhi after a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.
A Goa Police spokesperson said Gupta was not found at his Delhi residence when a team visited earlier, which led to the LOC. He has now been detained and will be placed under arrest once formalities to bring him to Goa are completed, the official said.
Luthra brothers fled to Thailand
Two other owners of the nightclub, brothers Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, remain absconding. A blue-corner notice has been issued to track their movement across borders. Both reportedly boarded an IndiGo flight to Phuket, Thailand, just hours after the fire. They are said to have left India before the lookout circular could be enforced. Police later pasted the notice outside their residence in Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar.
Romeo Lane demolition
Authorities took action against Romeo Lane restaurant in Vagator, which is owned by the Luthra brothers. A part of the Romeo Lane Vagator was demolished on Tuesday. Goa Tourism Deputy Director Dhiraj Wagale said that 198 square metres of beachside encroachment was cleared as part of the operation.
Goa nightclub fire
So far, police have arrested five individuals linked to the nightclub’s day-to-day functioning: chief general manager Rajiv Modak, general manager Vivek Singh, bar manager Rajiv Singhania, gate manager Riyanshu Thakur and employee Bharat Kohli.
Twenty-five people lost their lives when a fire broke out at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, North Goa, around midnight on Saturday. The post-mortems of all the victims have now been completed and their bodies have been handed over to their families.