Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Dec 10: The Goa Police on Tuesday detained Ajay Gupta, one of the four owners of the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub in Arpora, where a massive fire claimed 25 lives late Saturday night.

Police officials said Gupta had been untraceable earlier, prompting the issuance of a Look Out Circular (LOC) against him and co-owner Surinder Kumar Khosla. A team sent to Delhi had failed to locate him initially, but he was later tracked down in the national capital and taken into custody.

He will be formally arrested and brought to Goa after completing necessary legal procedures, a police spokesperson confirmed.

Meanwhile, co-owners Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra remain absconding. Authorities have issued a Blue Corner Notice to trace them.

So far, five staff members have already been arrested — chief general manager Rajiv Modak, general manager Vivek Singh, bar manager Rajiv Singhania, gate manager Riyanshu Thakur, and employee Bharat Kohli.

The devastating fire broke out around midnight on Saturday at the popular Arpora nightclub, leaving 25 people dead and several others injured. Rescue and investigation operations remain underway as authorities probe possible negligence and safety violations.