Within hours of the Birch club blaze that killed 25, owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra slipped out of India on a pre-dawn flight to Phuket, prompting a nationwide manhunt and an Interpol Blue Corner Notice.
BY PC Bureau
December 9, 2025: three hours of the inferno that ripped through Birch by Romeo Lane in Goa’s Arpora — killing 25 people during a packed Saturday-night show — owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra had already slipped out of India.
By 5:30 am on Sunday, the brothers were airborne on an IndiGo flight to Phuket, Goa DGP Alok Kumar said on Monday, calling their swift departure “a clear attempt to evade investigation.”
Even as Saurabh posted a sombre note on social media expressing “profound grief” and “unwavering solidarity” with victims’ families, authorities issued a Look Out Circular against the duo. Goa Police, now coordinating with Interpol, says it wants them “in custody at the earliest.”
Manhunt Widens; Interpol Alert Issued
On Tuesday, Goa Police issued a Blue Corner Notice through Interpol to help track, locate and provisionally detain the brothers until extradition can be pursued.
A police team reached Delhi late Sunday with an arrest warrant and searched the brothers’ homes and offices — all empty. Hours later, immigration officials confirmed what investigators already suspected: the Luthras had fled before the bodies were even recovered.
Delhi Police’s Crime Branch also detained senior Romeo Lane executive Bharat Kohli and handed him over to Goa Police on transit remand. Another Delhi-based partner, Ajay Gupta, has now come under scrutiny.
Meanwhile, four Birch staffers — chief general manager Rajiv Modak, gate manager Priyanshu Thakur, bar manager Rajveer Singhania and general manager Vivek Singh — have been remanded to six days’ police custody. Three suspended Goa government officials have also been summoned.
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How the Fire Started
Investigators say the blaze was triggered when electric firecrackers, used during a belly-dance act, shot into the club’s wooden ceiling, igniting a fire that tore through the first-floor venue packed with over 150 guests.
As the inquiry expands, officials have also detailed how the club’s main owners, the Luthra brothers, managed to flee the country within hours of the incident by boarding an IndiGo flight that departed nearly an hour ahead of schedule amid operational shortages across India.
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.… pic.twitter.com/iO6o5z2Tle— News Insider 24×7 (@newsinsider24x7) December 9, 2025
Rise of an Empire — and Its Cracks
The Luthras’ hospitality empire began modestly in Delhi’s Hudson Lane with Mama’s Buoi, but Romeo Lane turned them into nightlife moguls.
Their Vagator outlet became a post-Covid phenomenon — a mix of sea views, fire dancers, Bollywood nights and heavy-budget entertainment that drew tourists in droves. The brand expanded aggressively: 25+ outlets across India, one in Dubai, and nearly two dozen more in the pipeline.
Developers were willing to fund construction; franchisees paid steep fees and royalties. But insiders say the rapid pace outstripped the brothers’ ability to control quality. Several franchise partners alleged they were left unattended after signing expensive contracts.
Behind the scenes, Saurabh was the flamboyant frontman, while Gaurav, an engineer by training, handled operations. Their father, Vijay Luthra, wheelchair-bound for years, remained the emotional anchor of the family.
Safety Violations and Unanswered Questions
Local authorities have now pointed to major violations at Birch — a venue marketed as “India’s first island bar.”
Despite operating since March 2024, the club allegedly lacked crucial safety clearances. Investigators are probing:
- Why were these gaps not flagged earlier?
- Who allowed a kitchen in the basement?
- Why was enforcement lax until a mass-casualty tragedy occurred?
In Delhi, franchise partners are weighing whether to drop the Romeo Lane brand entirely, fearing fallout. Restaurateurs say the Luthras owe the hospitality industry — and the families of the victims — “an explanation in person, not an Instagram statement.”
A Brand at the Brink
From being one of India’s most recognisable nightlife brands, Romeo Lane now stands at a precipice — its future overshadowed by a deadly blaze, a midnight escape, and a trail of regulatory failures.
As the hunt for the Luthra brothers intensifies, the tragedy has opened a broader debate on nightclub safety, accountability, and the unchecked expansion of hospitality empires.
