Romeo Lane's History of Violations Exposed Following Fatal Goa Nightclub Fire

The Luthra brothers have been detained in Thailand following a devastating incident at their Goa establishment.

Romeo Lane, a premium hospitality chain now under intense scrutiny after the fatal fire at its Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa that claimed 25 lives, has previously faced numerous complaints, legal challenges, and financial penalties for alleged environmental violations in both Goa and Uttarakhand, according to official government records.

Delhi-based siblings Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, who own this expanding brand, operate at least 23 upscale restaurants, bars, and resorts across multiple Indian states including Goa, Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Following the Sunday tragedy, the brothers fled India within hours and were subsequently detained by authorities in Thailand.

Documentation available on the Goa Assembly website indicates that Romeo Lane's Vagator location had received complaints for constructing permanent structures on beachfront property and violating coastal environmental regulations. In 2023, authorities filed a case against the establishment for building permanent structures despite only having permission for "a temporary wooden shack and huts."

Local environmental activist Sagardeep Sirsaikar, who escalated the matter to both the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Bombay High Court, claims that proper enforcement action was delayed due to political interference.

Photo Credit: Romeo Lane

"Authorities misrepresented facts before the NGT and High Court, claiming they had demolished the Vagator outlet. When I filed a contempt petition, they only demolished the entrance while preserving other structures due to political pressure," Sirsaikar revealed to NDTV.

He further stated that the Goa State Biodiversity Board subsequently imposed an Rs 11 lakh penalty on the Vagator location of Romeo Lane.

Following the December 6 fire at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora, located approximately 7 km away, portions of the Vagator restaurant were finally demolished.

The brand's problems weren't limited to Goa. In Uttarakhand, Romeo Lane's Mussoorie resort was among 49 establishments penalized for non-compliance with environmental standards and operating without proper approvals. According to submissions by the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board to the NGT, an environmental compensation of nearly Rs 8 lakh was imposed on their Courtyard House resort on Mall Road in September 2025.

Despite these ongoing controversies, Romeo Lane has continued its aggressive expansion strategy. The hospitality chain currently operates 23 restaurants and resorts across 12 Indian cities including Delhi, Goa, Noida, Meerut, Lucknow, Bhopal, Mussoorie, and Dehradun, with an international presence in Dubai. According to their website, the brand is "present & coming up in 22 cities & 4 countries."

Romeo Lane operates establishments under four distinct brand names: Romeo Lane, Birch, Mama's Buoi, and Caha.

Chairman Saurabh Luthra, who holds a Computer Science degree, is recognized within industry circles as an innovative restaurateur. The company website describes him as known for "public relations and organic cocktails." His hospitality career began with Mama's Buoi and Dramebaaz establishments in Delhi's popular Hudson Lane area.

The recent Goa tragedy occurred on December 6, when fire erupted at Birch by Romeo Lane during a musical event, resulting in 25 fatalities and six injuries. Approximately 100 people, primarily tourists, were inside the club when the blaze began. Video footage from the event shows performers dancing to Bollywood music as electric firecrackers were being used, which apparently triggered the deadly inferno.

Within hours of the disaster, the Luthra brothers fled to Thailand. They now face serious charges including culpable homicide not amounting to murder and negligence, with deportation expected on Friday.