Ajay Gupta, a key accused in the fire incident at the restaurant-cum-bar in North Goa that claimed 25 lives, was detained in New Delhi by the Goa police on Tuesday.
As he was brought to Delhi's Anti-Extortion and Kidnapping Cell, Gupta, wearing a mask and covering most of his face, briefly remarked, while entering the Crime Branch office at Sunlight Colony, “I am only a partner.”
He is one of the four owners of Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub and will be taken to Goa on Wednesday for questioning, reported PTI.
According to ANI, a Lookout Circular (LOC) was issued against Gupta, one of the four owners of Birch by Romeo Lane, after a Goa police team failed to find him at his residence. "We later managed to detain him in Delhi," an official said, adding that Gupta would be placed under arrest after the completion of formalities to bring him to Goa.
"Gupta will be flown to Goa on Wednesday for interrogation," the official said.
The Goa government formed a committee to investigate the incident.
The development comes days after a massive fire broke out in the early hours of Sunday at the nightclub in Arpora, triggering a high-casualty incident and killing at least 25 people, most of whom were staff of the restaurant.
Blue Corner Notice against Luthra brothers
In a major development in the ongoing investigation into Goa's Romeo Lane fire incident, a 'blue corner notice' has been issued by INTERPOL against the absconding accused, Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra, just two days after the incident took place.
The brothers fled to Thailand after the fire and are now being tracked by international authorities.
An LOC has been issued against Surinder Kumar Khosla, another owner of the nightclub, who is a British citizen, according to police.
Five arrested so far
The police have so far arrested five persons - the nightclub’s chief general manager, Rajiv Modak, general manager Vivek Singh, bar manager Rajiv Singhania, gate manager Riyanshu Thakur and employee Bharat Kohli.
Goa administration demolishes Romeo Lane at Vagator
The district administration on Tuesday demolished part of the Romeo Lane restaurant, also owned by Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra, in Vagator, Goa.
Meanwhile, Goa Tourism's Rohan Khaunte said the police will conduct a strict investigation from "down to top" and that "some heads need to roll."
"Goa Police has achieved a major breakthrough in the investigation of the Birch by Romeo Lane fire incident. A Blue Corner Notice has been issued by INTERPOL against the absconding accused," Goa police said in a statement.
