Ajay Gupta — one of the listed partners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in North Goa — has insisted that his involvement in the venture was minimal, even as police move to arrest him in connection with the devastating fire that killed 25 people last Saturday. Detained in Delhi on Wednesday, Gupta distanced himself from the nightclub’s day-to-day operations, telling reporters, “I was only a partner, I don’t know anything else.”

Gupta’s name is officially recorded on the nightclub’s GST documents, alongside co-owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, making him a key figure for investigators trying to determine how the establishment was being managed and whether safety lapses contributed to the tragedy.

According to senior officials, a Look Out Circular had been issued when Goa Police failed to locate Gupta at his Delhi residence. He was later detained and is expected to be formally arrested before being transported to Goa for detailed questioning. Police sources say his interrogation is crucial to mapping the ownership structure and identifying those responsible for the alleged negligence that led to the December 6 inferno.

The fatal fire erupted shortly after midnight at the Arpora-based nightclub, raising serious concerns about compliance with fire-safety norms at entertainment venues across Goa. Investigators are also examining whether the club had the proper permissions for its late-night operations and crowd capacity.

Meanwhile, the two primary owners — Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra — have left India and are believed to be in Phuket, Thailand. Interpol has already issued a Blue Corner Notice to help track their movements. Another co-owner, British national Surinder Kumar Khosla, is also under the scanner, with a lookout circular issued to prevent his exit from India.