• Source:JND
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Goa Nightclub Fire: Ajay Gupta, the co-owner of a Goa nightclub where a devastating fire killed 25 people, attempted to avoid arrest by faking a spinal injury and getting himself admitted to a hospital. Gupta, who has since been taken into custody, claimed to be suffering from a spinal issue and sought treatment at the Institute of Brain and Spine in Lajpat Nagar, Delhi.

However, his strategy was unsuccessful, and he was eventually apprehended by the police, according to NDTV.

Ajay Gupta now faces serious legal consequences following the deadly fire at 'Birch by Romeo Lane,' a nightclub in North Goa that he co-owns with brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra. On Wednesday, he was brought before a court in Saket, New Delhi for remand proceedings, after being detained by Goa Police the previous day.

While Gupta was hiding from authorities, the Luthra brothers fled to Phuket, Thailand, mere hours after the blaze. Efforts are currently underway to bring them back to India. Police started tracking Gupta immediately after the fire, but he managed to stay under the radar for some time.

An official Lookout Circular (LOC) had been issued for Gupta, and when police visited his residence in Delhi, they found him missing. A non-bailable arrest warrant was issued soon after. Authorities also discovered that Gupta had been deliberately avoiding detection by minimising his phone usage and frequently changing locations.

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Gupta's next move was to check into the hospital, claiming he had a spinal issue. His plan was to stay there for several days, hoping to buy himself time to arrange an escape. However, the Delhi Police Crime Branch, in coordination with Goa Police, foiled his attempt, and Gupta was eventually taken into custody. He will soon be presented in court before being transferred to Goa.

Meanwhile, in Goa, the district administration demolished part of the Romeo Lane restaurant located in Vagator. The restaurant is owned by Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, who also own the nightclub where the fire took place.

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Gupta, speaking to the media, claimed he was “just a partner” and was not involved in the club’s day-to-day operations. However, GST documents confirm that Gupta was indeed one of the three partners in the nightclub, alongside the Luthra brothers.

Following the tragic fire that claimed the lives of 25 individuals, five tourists and twenty staff members, the nightclub and its owners have come under intense scrutiny for multiple violations, including breaches of building and environmental regulations, as well as fire safety protocols. The owners are facing charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and negligence. Four staff members have already been arrested in connection with the incident.

Meanwhile, the Luthra brothers continue to remain absconding. A blue corner INTERPOL notice has been issued against absconding Luthra brothers, Gaurav and Saurabh as efforts to trace their whereabouts continue. The brothers, owners of Birch by Romeo Lane, have applied for anticipatory bail, and their legal team expects the Sessions Court to hear their application today, as confirmed by a lawyer representing them, according to news agency ANI.

With Gupta's detention, the total number of people taken into custody in the case has now risen to six, police officials said on Wednesday. Other arrests include the nightclub's chief general manager, Rajiv Modak, general manager Vivek Singh, bar manager Rajiv Singhania, gate manager Riyanshu Thakur and an employee, Bharat Kohli.

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