Goa Police are seeking assistance from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Interpol to locate and bring back Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub where a devastating fire claimed the lives of 25 people. The Luthra brothers are believed to have fled to Phuket, Thailand, shortly after the incident.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Varsha Sharma stated that Look Out Circulars (LOCs) have been issued against the Luthra brothers. These circulars are intended to prevent them from leaving the country and alert authorities to their presence. Since the brothers are already abroad, the Goa Police are now working with Interpol and the CBI to facilitate their return to India. An Interpol Blue Corner notice has been issued against the Luthra brothers to gather additional information about their identity, location, and activities.
The fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, North Goa, occurred around midnight on Saturday. The blaze resulted in the deaths of 25 people, including staff members and tourists. Preliminary investigations suggest that electric firecrackers were the primary cause of the fire. Eyewitness accounts indicate that narrow exits contributed to the fatalities.
In addition to the Luthra brothers, the police have identified a third owner of the nightclub, Ajay Gupta. Raids were conducted at Gupta's residence in Gurgaon, but he was not found. A Lookout Circular has also been issued against Ajay Gupta.
Authorities have arrested five individuals in connection with the fire, including Rajiv Modak, the club's chief general manager; Priyanshu Thakur, the gate manager; Rajveer Singhania, the bar manager; Vivek Singh, the general manager; and Bharat Singh, who managed daily operations.
The First Information Report (FIR) has highlighted several lapses at the nightclub, including the absence of adequate fire safety equipment and emergency exits, as well as a lack of necessary permissions and licenses.
Following the incident, the Goa government has initiated a crackdown on illegal properties connected to the Luthra brothers. Illegal structures owned by the brothers are being demolished, starting with a beach shack in Vagator. The district administration has already sealed the nightclub and another facility in Assagao.
The police investigation is ongoing and will focus on determining accountability for the fire and whether there was any collusion in granting licenses to the nightclub despite violations of safety norms. The investigation also revealed that Kristina, a Kazakh national performing as a belly dancer at the club, did not have the required business visa.
