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Goa Nightclub Fire: Sixth Accused Ajay Gupta Appears in Court Amid Arrests

Ajay Gupta, one of the owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, has been produced in a Goa court after his arrest. The tragic fire at the venue last week resulted in the deaths of 25 people. Meanwhile, two other co-owners, the Luthra brothers, have been detained in Thailand and face extradition to India. Authorities are moving forward with the investigation and have begun providing compensation to the victims' families.

Key Points: Goa Nightclub Fire Accused Ajay Gupta Appears in Court

  • Ajay Gupta was arrested in Delhi and brought to Goa on a 36-hour transit remand
  • The devastating blaze at 'Birch by Romeo Lane' claimed 25 lives, including five tourists
  • Two other owners, the Luthra brothers, were detained in Thailand following an Interpol notice
  • Goa CM stated an inquiry report will be ready within eight days as compensation is disbursed
3 min read

Birch-Goa partner Ajay Gupta produced in Goa court in nightclub fire case

Ajay Gupta, co-owner of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, was produced in a Goa court following his arrest in Delhi over the fire that killed 25.

"The brothers were deliberately evading investigation and should not be granted any interim relief. - State Counsel in Court"

Panaji, December 11

In connection with the tragic Goa nightclub fire, the sixth accused, Ajay Gupta, was produced in the Goa court by the police on Thursday.

Gupta, one of the four owners of the 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub, was arrested from Delhi by the Goa Police and, following a 36-hour transit remand by Delhi's Saket Court on Wednesday, was brought to Goa to face legal proceedings in the ongoing investigation.

On December 6, late at night at 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub, a devastating blaze claimed 25 lives, including five tourists and 20 staff members.

Meanwhile, the Luthra brothers, Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra, wanted in connection with the tragic fire at Goa's Birch Hotel, have been detained in Thailand and are expected to be deported to India shortly, sources said on Thursday.

India and Thailand have an Extradition Treaty in place since 2013. The Treaty provides a firm legal framework for seeking extradition of fugitive offenders, including those wanted for fiscal offences. An agreement on transfer of Sentenced Persons between the two countries is also in place since 2012.

According to the Goa Police, the brothers were booked on December 7 for fleeing the country while authorities were battling the fire and rescuing trapped guests. Following a Blue Corner Notice issued by Interpol against the absconding accused, Thai authorities apprehended the accused in Thailand.

The restaurant is owned by Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra, who also own Birch by Romeo Lane.

Earlier, the Delhi Police informed the Rohini Court that the accused brothers, Gaurav and Saurav Luthra, had left the country soon after the Goa club fire tragedy and that a Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) had already been issued against them by a Goa court.

Opposing their plea for protection, the State submitted that the brothers were deliberately evading investigation and should not be granted any interim relief.

The accused, however, told the court through their counsel that they were apprehended upon landing in India. They argued that they had travelled to Thailand for work-related reasons and now wished to return but feared custodial action. Their lawyers emphasised that the applicants only sought brief transit protection to approach the competent court in Goa.

The Rohini Court took up the transit anticipatory bail applications on Wednesday and questioned their maintainability, noting that the applicants were not presently within the territorial jurisdiction.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the inquiry report will be ready within eight days, even as the state begins disbursing compensation to victims' families and intensifies safety audits and enforcement at entertainment venues.

The district administration demolished part of the Romeo Lane restaurant in Vagator, Goa.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good work by the police and Interpol in tracking them down in Thailand. It's a relief that the extradition treaty is in place. But this tragedy exposes the utter failure of fire safety norms in our party hubs. How many more audits and "intensified enforcement" announcements will we see after such incidents? The system is reactive, not preventive.
D
David E
As a frequent visitor to Goa, this is terrifying. We trust these establishments with our safety. Their argument about going to Thailand for "work" right after a fire that killed their own staff is laughable and insulting. The CM says the report will be ready in 8 days—let's hope it leads to real change and not just another file on a shelf.
S
Suresh O
Compensation is necessary, but it can never replace a life. The real justice will be ensuring no one else dies like this. Every single club, restaurant, and hotel needs a mandatory, surprise safety check. And the officials who gave them the license without proper checks must also be held accountable. Jai Hind.
A
Anjali F
While the focus is rightly on the owners, let's not forget the systemic corruption that allows such death traps to operate. How did they get clearance? Who looked the other way during inspections? The entire chain needs to be investigated. Demolishing part of the building is just optics.
K
Karthik V
Respectfully, I have to say the police action, while good, feels slow. They were caught in Thailand because of an Interpol notice, not because our borders were sealed for them. We need much faster coordination to prevent the wealthy from simply flying out after such disasters. The victims were ordinary Indians who

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