Goa nightclub fire: Co-owner Ajay Gupta detained in Delhi days after deadly blaze kills 25; Luthra brothers still on the run

Days after at least 25 people died in a deadly fire at a popular nightclub in Goa, police have detained Ajay Gupta, one of the four owners of ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub. A Watch Circular had earlier been issued against Ajay Gupta and another owner, Surinder Kumar Khosla. Ajay Gupta lives in New Delhi and is one of the prime accused in the Goa fire tragedy.

When the police team visited his residence in Delhi, they found him absconding and subsequently a non-bailable arrest warrant was issued against him, ANI reported. “Ajay Gupta is currently detained in Delhi,” Goa Police said in a statement. he said.

“Earlier, an LOC was issued against him when the police team visited his residence in Delhi and could not find him there,” he said, adding that Gupta was later found in the national capital and taken into custody.
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Goa nightclub fire: Key accused detained

“We have detained one of the owners of the nightclub, Ajay Gupta. This is the sixth person arrested in connection with the case,” a Goa police spokesperson said.

Police arrested the nightclub’s general manager Rajiv Modak, general manager Vivek Singh, bar manager Rajiv Singhania, door manager Riyanshu Thakur and employee Bharat Kohli since the fire on December 7, India Today reported.

Blue Corner Notice against Luthra brothers

A Watch Circular was also issued for another co-owner, Surinder Kumar Khosla, while two more owners (Sarabh and Gaurav Luthra) fled to Phuket, Thailand. A Blue Corner Notice was issued against the two brothers.
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Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the two men behind Goa nightclub Birch by Romeo Lane, reportedly fled to Thailand after a devastating fire at the nightclub killed 25 people. According to a TOI report, the Luthra brothers entered the hospitality scene around a decade ago with Mama’s Buoi on Delhi’s Hudson Lane; this was a casual venue that quickly became a favorite among students. Their big breakthrough came with Romeo Lane in Delhi’s Civil Lines, which later expanded aggressively to Goa’s Vagator as tourism surged after the pandemic.

Romeo Lane at Vagator has quickly become a top attraction thanks to its sea-facing ambience, fire shows and high-voltage Bollywood nights. Its scale, theatricality and unmistakable desi flavor have helped it carve out a niche in Goa’s crowded party scene. Leveraging this momentum, the brand has expanded aggressively in cities like Indore, Nagpur, Agra and Dehradun, with malls competing to make Romeo Lane a major nightlife destination.

(With input from institutions)