Goa Club Fire: Luthra Brothers Are Habitual Offenders, Have High-Profile Links, Says Whistleblower

Last Updated:December 10, 2025, 12:35 IST

Goa nightclub fire: "The structure was built in CRZ violation as they used concrete for construction. They have encroached upon 500 sqm of property meant for tourism," said Ravi

Saurabh (top right) and Gaurav Luthra, owners of Birch by Romeo Lane in Goa which saw a deadly fire on Saturday night. (PTI/Instagram/News18)

The Luthra brothers, owners of the Goa nightclub at Arpora, Birch by Romeo Lane, which saw a deadly fire on Saturday night that killed 25, are habitual offenders, whistleblower Ravi told CNN-News18 exclusively.

According to police sources, on December 7, within hours of the deadly blaze, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra boarded a flight from Delhi to Phuket, Thailand. Interpol has issued a Blue Corner Notice against both brothers to help locate and provisionally detain them pending extradition proceedings.

ALSO READ | Goa Club Owners Flee To Thailand: How Luthra Brothers Rose & Tripped Down The ‘Romeo Lane’

The First Information Report (FIR) has blamed the lapses at the island club for the tragedy. The Luthra brothers have moved an anticipatory bail application, and the Sessions Court is expected to hear the matter today. Varsha Sharma, DIG Goa, said they are in the process of getting the Luthra Borthers back to India.

‘No action taken despite multiple complaints’: What the whistleblower said

“The Luthra brothers are habitual offenders. They have high-profile connections with the authorities. All of our complaints regarding the irregularities have been ignored. Only after we filed a petition with the high court, did we get support and justice…In that case, too, we had to file a contempt and refile the complaint," said Ravi.

Elaborating on the lapses, he said, “The main structure was built in CRZ violation as they used concrete for construction. They have encroached upon 500 sqm of property meant for tourism. In high tide or during the monsoon, the property used to get flooded. So we filed a complaint, but no authority took action."

“We had fears regarding the lapses at the island club…They are to blame for the loss of 25 lives, most of whom were poor who had come to the state in search of livelihood," he said.

Goa nightclub fire & Luthra brothers: Government probe, action

A beach shack owned by the brothers is set to be demolished. Officials said bulldozers will raze ‘Romeo Lane’ in Vagator, after the restaurant, allegedly constructed on government-owned land, was sealed by authorities.

Addressing allegations of police negligence, Goa DIG Varsha Sharma said, “We have coordinated with the CBI and Interpol. A Blue Corner Notice has also been issued."

Goa Police on Wednesday brought Ajay Gupta, one of the four owners of the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub, to the Sunlight Colony Crime Branch office in connection with the recent North Goa fire tragedy that claimed 25 lives at the restaurant-cum-bar. A Lookout Circular (LOC) had earlier been issued against Gupta. Gupta claimed he was “only a partner" .

The Government of Goa formed a committee to investigate the incident.

Goa Police has already arrested five staff members of the nightclub — chief general manager Rajiv Modak, general manager Vivek Singh, bar manager Rajiv Singhania, gate manager Riyanshu Thakur and employee Bharat Kohli — in connection with the tragedy.

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