A Delhi court on Wednesday allowed the Goa Police a 36-hour transit remand of Ajay Gupta, one of the co-owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, where a devastating fire claimed 25 lives on December 6.
Gupta was brought to the Delhi Crime Branch office earlier on Wednesday as part of the investigation into the fire incident.
Gupta, who appeared with his face mostly covered, briefly told reporters that he was “only a partner” in the venture before entering the Crime Branch office. He was later taken to LNJP Hospital for medical examinations and was produced before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Vinod Joshi for transit remand proceedings.
The court granted a 36-hour transit remand in view of the ongoing air travel crisis due to disrupted Indigo flights.
The judge directed that special consideration be taken on account of Gupta's spinal injury and other medical issues, and timely medication should be ensured during custody.
According to investigation sources, Gupta had been under scrutiny from Goa Police, who questioned him earlier and initiated the paperwork required to secure his transit remand. Officials allege that he had been avoiding law enforcement officers since the night of the blaze.
A Look Out Circular had been issued after Goa Police failed to trace him during their initial search in Delhi. He was eventually found at a private hospital in Lajpat Nagar, where he had reportedly checked in citing spine-related ailments.
"We later managed to detain him in Delhi," a senior official said, adding that Gupta would be placed under arrest after the completion of formalities to bring him to Goa.
The force has already taken five staff members of the nightclub into custody: chief general manager Rajiv Modak, general manager Vivek Singh, bar manager Rajiv Singhania, gate manager Riyanshu Thakur, and employee Bharat Kohli.
Meanwhile, two other co-owners of the club, brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, are believed to have left the country shortly after the incident. An Interpol Blue Corner Notice has been issued to trace their whereabouts.
Investigators in Goa are expected to question Gupta extensively about the nightclub’s management structure, operational decision-making, and whether fire-safety protocols were adequately followed on the night of the tragedy.
(With inputs from PTI)