Taking action against the owners of the Goa club where a blaze killed 25 people on Saturday, the authorities on Tuesday demolished Romeo Lane at Vagator, beach shack owned by Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra. The Luthra brothers also owned the Birch by Romeo Lane, where a massive fire during a party led to multiple deaths and injuries. The brothers left the country for Thailand soon after they came to know about the incident.
The officials in Goa demolished a portion of the Romeo Lane restaurant located in the Vagator area on Tuesday. “We will demolish the encroachment on the beach side. The total area to be demolished is 198 square meters…”, Dhiraj Wagale, Deputy Director, Goa Tourism said.
#WATCH | Goa: A portion of the Romeo Lane restaurant located in the Vagator area is being demolished. It is owned by Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra, who also own Birch by Romeo Lane, where a fire tragedy claimed 25 lives on December 7.
“We will demolish the encroachment on… pic.twitter.com/gQ7kBgPwUX— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2025
Brothers being traced
As for the latest, the authorities have issued a look Out Circular against two other owners of Goa nightclub. Goa Chief Minister’s Office said Interpol has issued blue corner notice against ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub owners.
Amid the ongoing probe, a public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court seeking a court-monitored probe into the fire incident club.
The petition has been filed by social activist Aishwarya Salgaonkar, and argued that the nightclub was operating without a valid construction licence and despite several demolition orders issued against it.
Calling it a “systematic failure” on the part of the authorities to act against the club, the plea sought an urgent hearing. A bench of Justices Sarang Kotwal and Ashish Chavan has listed the matter for hearing on December 16.
How is Arpora Panchayat linked to case?
The massive fire at Goa’s nightclub has put a spotlight on the role of the Arpora village Panchayat. In March this year, the panchayat sent a show-cause notice to Surinder Kumar Khosla, the property owner of nightclub Birch by Romeo Lane, as per the documents, accusing him of running illegal operations, creating noise pollution, and running an unregistered business.
This action was part of a larger enforcement drive, which included a demolition order issued on April 20, 2024 (though some reports say it was first issued in January 2024). The order was later put on hold by the Directorate of Panchayats after the property owner filed an appeal.
The show-cause notice said, “It is also observed that you are running illegal business of Night Club in the property bearing Sy. no. 158/0 & 159/0 situated at Sankwadi, Arpora, Bardez – Goa and also causing noise pollution by playing loud music beyond the permissible limit within the vicinity.” The notice further added, “It is also observed that you are running illegal business in the name & style of “BIRCH” which is not registered in our office records.” However, the same was not executed.