42 companies, 1 Delhi address: The rise and fall of Luthra Empire

GOA/NEW DELHI: It began a decade ago in a quiet corner of Delhi’s Hudson Lane. A small, casual café called 'Mama’s Buoi' drew college students seeking cheap bites and music. It was unassuming, but for brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, it was the first step into a world they would soon dominate. They were engineers by training—Saurabh, the self-styled “gold medallist,” bold and flamboyant; Gaurav, precise, methodical, the quiet architect behind the accounts. Together, they would build a brand that lit up India’s nightlife. The turning point came with Romeo Lane. A modest success in Delhi’s Civil Lines, it became something else entirely when the brothers opened in Goa’s Vagator after the post-Covid tourism boom. Cliffs kissed by the Arabian Sea, fire performers leaping through the night, Bollywood beats pounding across open terraces—Romeo Lane was no longer a nightclub.

It was a spectacle. A magnet for travelers

A brand that malls fought to host, paying steep fees, agreeing to strict franchise contracts, eager to cash in on the Luthras’ magic. From Delhi to Indore, Nagpur, Agra, Dehradun—and even Dubai—the empire expanded at a breakneck pace. Birch by Romeo Lane and Caha joined the roster.

Over 25 outlets now operate across India, with nearly 25 more reportedly in the pipeline. Few hospitality brands had ever grown this fast. But behind the glamour lay cracks. Franchisees sometimes thrived, sometimes struggled. Investors complained they were abandoned despite paying hefty fees. Consultants were chased, meetings went unanswered. Rapid growth had outpaced oversight. And then, the tragedy struck. March 2024 saw the opening of what the brothers called India’s first island bar—an ambitious outpost in Arpora, Goa.

But safety rules, they say, were often ignored. One exit for a sprawling nightclub. Basements turned into kitchens. Local panchayat violations went unchecked. On a fateful December night, fire ripped through Birch by Romeo Lane, claiming 25 lives. The aftermath has been swift. The brothers fled to Thailand. Early Thursday, Thai authorities detained Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra. Investigators have discovered a corporate web spanning 42 companies and LLPs, many sharing a single Delhi office address—classic signs of corporate layering and potential money laundering. Agencies are preparing for deeper scrutiny. The empire that once dazzled with lights, music, and spectacle now faces an uncertain future. Social media apologies cannot replace the families lost, the investors abandoned, or the questions left unanswered. Franchisees speak of abandoning the Romeo Lane name, running outlets independently. The glamour is gone. The empire, built in a decade, teeters on the edge. From a quiet café in Hudson Lane to the cliffs of Goa, the Luthra brothers’ story is one of ambition, excess, and tragedy. In the wake of the blaze, one question remains: can the empire survive its own fire?