The tragic fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, Goa, which claimed the lives of 25 people on December 6, 2025, has brought increased scrutiny to the Luthra brothers' Romeo Lane chain and its history of regulatory violations. Even before this devastating incident, the Romeo Lane establishments in Goa were facing numerous complaints and fines related to Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) violations and noise pollution.

Romeo Lane Goa, a beachfront party shack in Vagator, has been a repeated target of locals' ire due to persistent breaches of CRZ norms and excessively loud music played late into the night. According to Jawish Moniz, a local guesthouse owner near Vagator beach, numerous complaints and police FIRs have been filed against the establishment, yet the violations continued. The Vagator location had been demolished on at least two prior occasions for CRZ violations.

The land on which Birch by Romeo Lane was built was allegedly on a salt pan, which, according to Glen Fernandes of the Calangute Collective, is illegal under Goan law for non-agricultural purposes. Fernandes also stated that the construction violated CRZ norms and building bylaws, including the construction of a five-meter wall without proper setbacks or pedestrian walkways.

Documents reveal that the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) received complaints about the property housing Birch by Romeo Lane as early as December 2023, followed by another in January 2025, alleging illegal construction in an ecologically sensitive salt-pan area. While the GCZMA issued a show-cause notice in April, warning of potential demolition orders, they later claimed the property fell outside their jurisdiction.

Arpora Panchayat President Roshan Redkar stated that the state government had overruled the panchayat's decision to demolish the club for irregular construction that violated building and safety regulations. According to Redkar, the owners appealed to the Directorate of Panchayats, which then stayed the demolition order.

Following the fire, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant ordered the demolition of the Romeo Lane beach shack in Vagator. This structure had been previously demolished multiple times for CRZ breaches, only to be rebuilt, highlighting a pattern of defiance against regulations. The demolition on December 9 marked the third time in six months that the Vagator structure had been partially razed.

The owners of the Romeo Lane chain, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, natives of Delhi, expanded their hospitality business into Goa. They started with a café called Mama's Buoi in Delhi's Hudson Lane in 2015, followed by Dramebaaz, and opened Romeo Lane in Delhi's Civil Lines in 2019.

The Luthra brothers reportedly fled to Phuket, Thailand, hours after the deadly fire. Goa Police have issued a lookout notice and are coordinating with the CBI and Interpol to bring them back to India. A Blue Corner Notice has also been issued.

The tragic fire at Birch by Romeo Lane and the subsequent scrutiny of the Luthra brothers' businesses have exposed a history of regulatory violations, complaints, and allegations of lax enforcement. The incident has raised concerns about balancing Goa's tourism industry with the need for environmental protection and adherence to safety regulations.