Before Goa blaze killed 25, Romeo Lane chain faced repeated complaints, fines

Visuals from Goa nightclub fire tragedy

The Romeo Lane hospitality chain, now under fire after 25 people were killed in a massive blaze at its Goa nightclub, Birch by Romeo Lane, had long been flagged by authorities for environmental and structural violations in multiple states, official documents show, according to a report by NDTV.

Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the Delhi-based brothers behind the rapidly expanding brand, left the country within hours of Sunday’s tragedy. They were traced to Thailand, where local authorities have now detained them.

NDTV reported that long before the Arpora nightclub went up in flames, Romeo Lane’s Vagator outlet had been the subject of repeated complaints in Goa. Records available on the Goa Assembly website indicate the restaurant was accused of putting up permanent structures on the beach in violation of coastal rules.

A 2023 case alleged that the outlet constructed fixed buildings even though it only had approval for “a temporary wooden shack and huts.”

Environmental activist Sagardeep Sirsaikar, who has pursued the case before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Bombay High Court, said the authorities misled both forums about enforcement action.

“Authorities lied before the NGT and the High Court that they had demolished the Vagator outlet. When I filed a contempt petition, they only razed the entrance and spared other parts under political pressure,” Sirsaikar told NDTV.

He added that the Goa State Biodiversity Board eventually levied a penalty of ₹11 lakh on the Vagator venue. Portions of the outlet were finally demolished only after the December 6 inferno at Birch by Romeo Lane, located roughly seven kilometres away.

Romeo Lane’s troubles haven’t been limited to the coastline. In Uttarakhand, one of the group’s properties — Courtyard House in Mussoorie — was among 49 establishments penalised for operating without proper environmental clearances. According to filings made by the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board to the NGT, the resort was hit with nearly ₹8 lakh in environmental compensation in September 2025.

Despite the regulatory actions, the group has expanded at breakneck pace in recent years. The Romeo Lane brand now spans at least 23 restaurants, bars and resorts across 12 Indian cities, including Delhi, Goa, Noida, Meerut, Lucknow, Bhopal, Mussoorie and Dehradun, along with an outlet in Dubai. Its own website claims it is “present & coming up in 22 cities & 4 countries.”