Goa Night Club Fire: Interpol Issues Blue Corner Notice Against Luthra Brothers Flee To Thailand

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is ordering an aggressive drive against illegal clubs linked to the Luthra brothers after the Birch by Romeo Lane fire in Arpora, which killed 25 people, including 20 staff members and five tourists, and triggered anger across Goa and beyond.

The state administration is now starting demolition of Romeo Lane Vagator, which is considered the flagship restaurant of Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra. Officials say this marks the first visible phase of a wider action plan against allegedly unauthorised constructions along Goa's coastal belt.

Goa nightclub fire crackdown leads to Romeo Lane Vagator demolition

Bulldozers have reached the Vagator site, where a section of the Romeo Lane outlet is being pulled down. Deputy Director, Goa Tourism, Dhiraj Wagale says, "We will demolish the encroachment on the beach side. The total area to be demolished is 198 square meters," confirming that only the encroached beach-facing portion is targeted in this phase.

The Vagator restaurant, operated by the Luthra brothers, stands on a hillside stretch that extends towards the beach and, according to government records and witness statements accessed by India Today, lies very close to the high-tide line, where waves are reported to reach the loft level during high tide, prompting earlier warnings from residents.

Goa nightclub fire probe and Blue Corner Notice against Luthra brothers

Senior officials confirm that a Blue Corner Notice has been issued against Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, who left Goa soon after the Arpora blaze and are suspected of flying out of India. Goa Police have pasted a lookout notice at the family home in Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi, and informed local police units, while relatives have avoided speaking to reporters.

According to investigators, the Luthra brothers' phones remain switched off, and digital trails are under detailed scrutiny. Police units and airports across India are on alert as agencies coordinate searches. Officials also state that Saurabh owns property in Dubai, and they are checking possible travel routes and any recent movements linked to that address.

Goa nightclub fire exposes years of ignored complaints and alleged protection

Activists say the Vagator club had stayed functional for years despite formal complaints to the police, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority, the Pollution Control Board, and the Town and Country Planning office. Yet, no strong enforcement followed. Locals had earlier described the structure as a "ticking time bomb" because of its position and alleged safety lapses.

Local campaigner Ravi Harmalkar has repeatedly accused authorities of ignoring warnings about the hill-and-beach club, which reportedly lacked structural clearances, fire safety permissions, and environmental approvals. Harmalkar states that the Luthra brothers threatened "dire consequences" when challenged, and argues this shows the operators believed they enjoyed protection from serious legal accountability.

Goa nightclub fire raises questions over political backing and partial demolitions

Harmalkar eventually approached the Bombay High Court (Goa Bench), which ordered demolition of the illegal parts of the Vagator property. However, only limited demolition happened, leaving the outlet able to run in a modified form. Even after a contempt plea and Tourism Department directives, action remained described in records as "superficial," allowing the club to resume work with temporary wooden fittings and nails.

The activist now asks who enabled that continued operation. Harmalkar alleges the Luthra brothers enjoyed "deep political backing" and influence over senior IAS and IPS officers, which, according to the activist, allowed several businesses to function on government land without proper licences. Those claims have renewed calls for accountability within administrative departments linked to the coast.

Goa nightclub fire: government widens demolition of Luthra properties

Sources say the Goa government has decided to expand the demolition campaign to every club and café associated with the Luthra brothers across Vagator and other coastal zones. Panchayats are expected to issue new notices soon as the administration signals a tougher stance on encroachments and regulatory breaches linked with nightlife venues in tourist-heavy districts.