Brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa where 25 people died in a massive fire late Saturday night, have fled the country for Thailand hours after the tragedy. Goa Police issued a lookout circular against them Sunday evening after raids at their Delhi home turned up empty, with immigration records showing they boarded a 5:30 am flight to Phuket on December 7 from Mumbai. The CBI’s Interpol division is set to request a Blue Corner Notice to track their whereabouts and activities in connection with the criminal probe.
The Luthras face culpable homicide charges alongside the club’s manager and event organiser in an FIR highlighting missing fire safety gear, blocked emergency exits, and invalid licences. Five arrests followed: chief general manager Rajiv Modak, gate manager Priyanshu Thakur, bar managers Rajveer Singhania and Vivek Singh, plus operations head Bharat Singh nabbed in Delhi Monday. Saurabh posted a grief-stricken Instagram note Sunday vowing support for victims’ families, but police moved fast as evidence of flight emerged. India-Thailand extradition treaty from 2015 could bring them back if located, amid a magisterial inquiry led by North Goa Collector Ankit Yadav set to probe lapses within a week.
Luthra Brothers’ Rapid Rise and Fall in Hospitality:
Saurabh Luthra, Delhi-born B.Tech gold medalist in computer science, ditched corporate business development for hospitality a decade ago. He launched Mama’s Buoi cafe-lounge and Dramebaaz bar in Hudson Lane, North-East Delhi, before Romeo Lane exploded their brand across 30 cities like Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, Goa, Bhopal, Indore, Dehradun, Lucknow, and Dubai. The portfolio grew to restro-bars, rooftop spots, and a Goa boutique hotel, with Birch advertised as “India’s first island bar” in Arpora.
Gaurav lists himself as co-founder of Romeo Lane, Birch, and Caha on social media. Romeo Lane’s site hails Saurabh as “fastest-growing restaurateur,” “iconic” in 2023 awards, and “40 under 40” regular for redefining spaces with PR savvy and organic cocktails. They lived in North Delhi’s Outram Lane near GTB Nagar, site of Monday’s police raid. Past troubles surfaced: a 2024 MCD show-cause for Delhi club hygiene and seating violations (later fixed), plus Goa pollution board notice to seven clubs including Romeo Lane for noise breaches. The brothers’ co-owner in Goa Birch remains at large in Delhi, per Crime Branch searches.
Fire Safety Lapses Spark FIR and Arrests:
The midnight blaze at Birch killed 25, with FIR citing no fire equipment, sealed exits, and expired permissions including trade licence dead since March 2024. Arpora sarpanch signed NoCs for power, water, repairs, and trade, but failed to seal post-expiry under Goa Panchayat Raj Act Section 72-A despite demolition orders stalled higher up. CMO Monday confirmed all 25 bodies identified, 20 sent home, and other Romeo Lane spots sealed for document checks.
Arrests hit fast: four Sunday from the club, Bharat Singh Monday from Delhi running daily ops. Government officials issuing permits face questioning. Goa State Disaster Management Authority advisory mandates safety audits within seven days for nightclubs, bars, events-reports ready for inspections. Four-member magisterial probe verifies licences, pins blame, suggests fixes.
Police Chase, Inquiry, and Safety Crackdown:
Goa Police raced post-FIR, Delhi team raiding Luthra home Sunday, pasting notices, triggering Bureau of Immigration LOC by evening. Mumbai confirmed Phuket flight hours post-fire, prompting CBI Interpol outreach for Blue Notice on identity and movements. Delhi Crime Branch aids capital searches for co-owner.
CM Pramod Sawant’s office slammed panchayat inaction on sealing, vowed scrutiny. Safety advisory covers fire, electrical, emergency, structural norms across venues. Inquiry deadlines a week, spotlighting how permissions lapsed despite signatures. The Luthras’ Instagram grief rang hollow as flight logs surfaced, turning spotlight to accountability in Goa’s nightlife hub.
