Ajay Gupta, co-owner of the Goa nightclub where a devastating fire killed 25 people, has been detained in Delhi and maintains he held only a partnership role in the establishment. He was taken into custody after admitting himself to a hospital, even as two other owners remain missing.

Gupta taken into custody amid widening probe

Ajay Gupta, one of the owners of the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub in Goa, was detained on Tuesday after authorities located him at the Institute of Brain and Spine in Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar. Officials said Gupta arrived at the hospital in an Innova car with a Haryana registration number.

As he was being taken away, Gupta told media, “I’m only a partner and nothing else.”

A lookout notice had earlier been issued against him after a Goa Police team failed to trace him at his Delhi residence. Gupta is expected to be presented before the Saket Court, while Goa Police are seeking a transit remand so he can be taken back to the state for further interrogation.

Luthra brothers still absconding, blue corner notice issued

Two other co-owners, Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, remain untraceable. Investigators found that they boarded a flight to Phuket around 5:30 am on Sunday, just hours after the tragedy.
The Delhi and Goa Police teams are now conducting searches at locations linked to them, including suspected safe houses.

What happened at the nightclub?

A musical night at the club turned tragic when flames engulfed the venue, with videos showing thick smoke and fire rapidly spreading. Another clip captured a dancer performing to ‘Mehbooba Mehbooba’ moments before the ceiling caught fire.

Although the exact cause has not been confirmed, initial suspicion points to fireworks used during a performance.

Police have registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, negligence and acts endangering life. Four staff members, including the manager, have already been arrested.

Officials from departments responsible for issuing licences and permits to the establishment have also been summoned to examine possible procedural lapses.

A beach shack linked to Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra — the proprietors of the Goa nightclub where 25 people were killed in a massive fire last week — is set to be demolished as authorities intensify action against the absconding brothers. The Goa Chief Minister’s office confirmed that the structure, operating under the name Romeo Lane in Vagator, will be brought down after 3 pm.

The demolition comes days after the nightclub Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora turned into a death trap, with investigations now revealing severe safety lapses at the venue.

Brothers fled to Thailand hours after fire

According to police, the Luthra brothers boarded an IndiGo flight to Phuket just three hours after the fire incident, a move officials believe was aimed at evading arrest. They have since been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder and conspiracy, but have not contacted investigators.

Police discovered their disappearance when they reached their Delhi residence during the probe. Authorities have now confirmed that Interpol has issued a Blue Corner Notice to help trace their location and movement.

Rapid rise in hospitality before disaster

The brothers’ entry into the hospitality business began in 2016 with the launch of Mama’s Buoi in Delhi’s Civil Lines. The success of this venture paved the way for Dramebaaz and later Romeo Lane, which soon became a popular nightclub chain. They eventually expanded to Goa with Birch by Romeo Lane, promoted online as the region’s first “island club”.

Serious safety lapses revealed

Investigators noted that the Goa nightclub’s bamboo-heavy décor significantly accelerated the spread of the fire. Access to the club was restricted to a narrow pathway built over a small lake, which served as both entry and exit — a bottleneck that hindered evacuation and prevented fire engines from reaching the site. Firefighters were forced to park nearly 400 metres away.

Further inspection found that the establishment lacked fire safety clearance. No working fire extinguishers or alarm systems were present, despite the venue hosting over 100 people on peak nights.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah firmly rebutted Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s criticism over the ongoing parliamentary discussion on Vande Mataram, asserting that the national song transcends electoral politics and holds significance beyond any regional context.

Shah says linking Vande Mataram to Bengal polls is “unfortunate”

Responding to Priyanka Gandhi’s allegation that the government initiated the discussion with an eye on next year’s Bengal polls, Shah said the national song belongs to the entire nation and has been a symbol of courage for freedom fighters across the world.

He remarked that questioning the relevance of the debate reflects a lack of understanding of the song’s historic and emotional value. According to him, the contribution of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya should not be viewed through a political lens.

Shah emphasised that the discussion was necessary when the song was written, during Independence, today, and even in 2047.

Shah targets Nehru, Indira Gandhi over past decisions

The Home Minister also criticised former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, alleging that appeasement politics led to restricting Vande Mataram to two stanzas. He claimed that decisions taken then contributed to the political climate that eventually resulted in Partition.

Shah further said that during the Emergency, those who raised the Vande Mataram slogan were imprisoned, reflecting suppression of democratic voices.

Kharge responds, starts speech with Vande Mataram

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge countered Shah’s remarks, beginning his speech with Vande Mataram and reminding the House that the Congress popularised the slogan during the freedom struggle.

He asked why Nehru was being singled out when the Congress Working Committee, not just Nehru, approved singing only the first two stanzas at national events in 1937.

Kharge also accused the government of pushing the debate to divert attention from current issues and said the true tribute to the nation would be constructive parliamentary work.