Goa inferno: Ajay Gupta, sleeping partner of Luthra brothers, sent to 7 days police custody
In Panaji on December 11, news broke that Ajay Gupta, the Delhi‑based businessman who co‑owns the Goa nightclub Birch by Romeo Lane that was gutted by fire, has been placed in police custody for a week while authorities dig into the incident.
Advocate Rohan Dessai, who represents Gupta, said: “Ajay Gupta is fully cooperating with the investigation. The Goa Police had sought 10 days of custody, but the court granted seven days. The investigation is ongoing, so at this stage, I cannot comment on his role.”
Gupta was arrested last Wednesday by Goa police. He is a silent partner alongside club owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra. With his detention the total number of people now held in relation to the case stands at six, according to officials.
Later that day, the Luthra brothers were nabbed in Thailand shortly after the devastating blaze, which claimed 25 lives. They run the Romeo Lane restaurant chain in several cities across four countries and had flown to Phuket just hours after the fire at their Birch by Romeo Lane club in Arpora, North Goa.
Indian authorities face up with charges of “culpable homicide not amounting to murder” and serious accusations of negligence. Official reports said the ministries will seek their deportation so the trial can take place in Goa, with a likely turnaround within 24 hours.
In a separate event, the Luthra brothers’ passports were suspended. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that, under Section 10A of the Passports Act, 1967, the central government can bar a passport holder from international travel, and that lifting the ban requires satisfying legal conditions or a court order. The next step will likely be a formal cancellation of those passports.
Indian officials are en route to Thailand to retrieve the Luthra brothers. The fire erupted late Saturday night while the club hosted a music event with nearly 100 guests, many tourists. Footage shows performers doing Bollywood numbers as electric firecrackers – thought to have ignited the blaze – were used. The venue’s heavy use of flammable décor and lack of fire safety measures turned the club into a death trap. No functional fire extinguishers or alarm systems were found onsite. A cramped access road kept fire engines from getting close; they had to be stationed about 400 metres away, severely delaying rescue efforts. By the time firefighters finally controlled the inferno, 25 people had died – five tourists and 20 staff members. Most victims had succumbed to toxic smoke inhalation in the basement, according to authorities.
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