GOA: Within three hours of the inferno that tore through Birch by Romeo Lane in Goa’s Arpora — killing 25 people during a packed Saturday-night performance — owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra slipped out of the country through Delhi airport.
By 5.30am Sunday, the brothers were airborne, headed to Phuket on
IndiGo flight 6E-1073, Goa DGP Alok Kumar revealed on Monday, calling their swift exit “a clear attempt to evade investigation”.
Even as Saurabh posted a sombre message on social media expressing “profound grief” and “unwavering solidarity” with victims’ families, the Bureau of Immigration issued a LookOut Circular for both brothers. Goa Police, coordinating with Interpol, says it now wants them in custody “at the earliest”.
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The 'burning' Luthra empireThe hunt begins
Goa police on Tuesday issued a blue corner notice through Interpol, aiming to track, identify, and provisionally detain the brothers while extradition proceedings are considered.
A Goa police team reached Delhi on Sunday armed with an arrest warrant, searched the Luthras’ residences and offices — but found nothing. Hours later, immigration authorities in Mumbai confirmed the truth: the brothers had bolted.
Delhi Police’s crime branch detained senior Romeo Lane executive Bharat Kohli from north Delhi and handed him to Goa Police on transit remand. Another Delhi-based partner, Ajay Gupta, is now on the radar.
Also read: Crowd grooves to Sholay's 'Mehbooba’ as flames erupt in backgroundMeanwhile, four arrested Birch staffers — chief general manager Rajiv Modak, gate manager Priyanshu Thakur, bar manager Rajveer Singhania and general manager Vivek Singh — were remanded to six days' custody. Three suspended Goa government officials have also been summoned.
Investigators say electric firecrackers, set off during a belly-dance performance, shot into the club’s wooden ceiling, triggering the blaze that ripped through the first-floor structure packed with 150 guests.
Rise of an empire built on speed — and cracks
To the Luthras, their empire was a decade-long dream that began in Delhi’s Hudson Lane with Mama’s Buoi — a cosy student-favourite.
But it was Romeo Lane that turned them into nightlife royalty. What began as a modest Civil Lines spot exploded into a roaring, post-Covid success in Vagator, Goa, drawing tourists with sea views, fire dancers, Bollywood nights and big-budget spectacle.
Their brand became so coveted that malls from Indore and Nagpur to Agra and Dehradun queued up to house a Romeo Lane outlet. Developers offered to cover construction. Franchisees paid hefty fees and royalties. Expansion was relentless: 25+ outlets in India, one in Dubai, and nearly 25 more in the works.
Also read: What makes nightclubs a recipe for disasterBehind the scenes, Saurabh was the flamboyant, aggressive face; Gaurav, the quieter engineer-turned-operator. Their paralysed father, Vijay Luthra, remained the family anchor.
But rapid growth came with strain. Franchisees complained of being left unattended after signing expensive contracts. Several outlets allegedly suffered losses. Industry insiders say the empire ballooned faster than the brothers could control.
A tragedy that cracked the façade
Local panchayat authorities have now flagged major violations at Birch — a property the brothers touted as "India’s first island bar".
The outlet, functional since March 2024, reportedly lacked key safety clearances.
Questions rage: Why were these not flagged earlier? Who allowed a kitchen in the basement? Why did enforcement wake up only after 25 people died?
In Delhi, murmurs have grown louder. Some franchise partners say they may discard the Romeo Lane brand name entirely. Restaurateurs say the brothers owe the industry — and the families of the dead — an in-person explanation, not a social media statement.
From a brand that once epitomised India’s booming nightlife, Romeo Lane now stands at a precipice — its future hostage to an escape in the night, a trail of unanswered questions, and a tragedy that India won’t forget soon.
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