Who Is Saurabh Luthra, Owner of Birch by Romeo Lane in Goa Where a Fire Claimed 25 Lives?

A magisterial inquiry into the Goa nightclub Birch by Romeo Lane fire probes safety lapses, access constraints, and licensing irregularities, alongside potential construction violations, as investigators assess the causes behind 25 deaths.

The fire at Goa nightclub Birch by Romeo Lane, which killed 25 people including tourists and staff, is now centred on alleged safety failures and irregular construction. Investigators are checking if a reported cylinder blast alone explains the scale of damage, while officials examine how the popular waterfront club operated on disputed land with licences under question.

Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the blaze, which started shortly after midnight on Sunday. Sawant said an FIR has been filed against the nightclub’s owner and general manager, who face arrest. The police report does not yet list any names, even as pressure grows over accountability for the deaths.

Goa nightclub fire: focus on access, site and safety lapses

The nightclub stood along the backwaters of the Arpora river, with a single narrow access route. Fire tenders could not reach the structure and had to stop around 400 metres away, according to PTI. The site was once a saltpan, treated as an eco-sensitive area and covered by Coastal Regulation Zone rules, which restrict building work in the intertidal zone.

Local officials have described how the club had long operated in a legal grey area. Sarpanch of the Arpora village panchayat, Roshan Redkar, said the structure did not have a valid construction licence. Redkar said authorities had inspected the premises earlier, issued a demolition order after due procedure, and later saw that order paused when the owners appealed.

Goa nightclub fire: disputes over Birch by Romeo Lane operations

Redkar Quoted in HT that disagreements around Birch by Romeo Lane had already reached the panchayat. "This club is being run by Saurabh Luthra. There was a dispute between him and the land owners, as also a dispute between him and his business partners which had led to complaints against the establishment." These disputes added to concerns around permissions and compliance.

Explaining the licensing issue, Redkar added that the civic body found no construction approval in place for the building. "There were complaints against the club and when we conducted an inquiry we found that there was no construction licence. We had issued a demolition notice after following due process. However, the demolition notice was stayed upon appeal," he told reporters on Sunday.

Goa nightclub fire: investigation, casualty details and cause theories

Police officials initially said the fire started after a gas cylinder blast around midnight, spreading quickly through the nightclub. Some eyewitnesses have offered a different account, claiming the flames began on the club’s first floor, where about 100 tourists were on the dance floor. The final cause will be part of the magisterial inquiry’s findings.

The table below summarises key known facts about the incident and the probe so far, based on official and local statements.

Goa nightclub fire: spotlight on Saurabh Luthra and Romeo Lane chain

Attention has now turned to the person identified locally as running the Goa nightclub. The Arpora panchayat head has named Saurabh Luthra as the operator of Birch by Romeo Lane, the outlet where the fire broke out late Saturday night. Police have yet to arrest the owner named in the FIR, and Luthra has not issued any public response.

A LinkedIn profile under the name Saurabh Luthra lists the role "chairman at Romeo Lane | Birch | Mama's Buoi". The Romeo Lane brand runs restaurants and bars in several Indian cities, including Delhi, and also has international outlets. The group focuses on nightlife and food and beverage venues, catering to urban customers across its network.

The Romeo Lane website presents further details about Luthra’s background and reach of the chain. It describes Saurabh Luthra as "gold medalist engineer-turned into a promising and fastest-growing restaurateur", who is known for his "splendid work in F&B industry". The website states that Romeo Lane is "currently present and coming in 22 cities as well as four countries".

The site also says that the Luthra is known for Saurabh Luthra's public relations and organic cocktails served at his outlets. It lists several awards and recognitions connected to Luthra’s restaurants and bars from 2016 onwards. These claims now sit alongside questions on compliance and risk management raised by the Goa incident.

As the inquiry progresses, investigators and regulators are expected to look at licensing, construction approvals, site access and crowd safety measures at Birch by Romeo Lane. The findings will affect not only the case against the nightclub’s management but also wider enforcement of building and fire norms at similar venues across Goa and other Indian cities.