Goa Club Owners Flee To Thailand: How Luthra Brothers Rose & Tripped Down The ‘Romeo Lane’

Last Updated:December 09, 2025, 14:20 IST

Goa nightclub fire: Owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra’s annual revenue could be in the range of Rs 200-300 crore and personal net worth around Rs 150-250 crore

Saurabh (top right) and Gaurav Luthra, owners of Birch by Romeo Lane in Goa which saw a deadly fire on Saturday night. (PTI/Instagram/News18)

Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of the Goa nightclub wanted in connection with the fire tragedy that claimed 25 lives at the facility, have fled to Thailand, prompting police to seek the help of Interpol to trace them, officials said on Monday.

According to a statement issued by the Goa Police, the owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, where the blaze killed people, staff and five tourists, late Saturday night, fled to Phuket at 5:30 am on December 7 in an IndiGo Airlines plane, just hours after the incident.

The owners’ escape was discovered after a massive manhunt was launched following the filing of a First Information Report (FIR), and during the probe, it was found from the immigration records that the duo took flight IndiGo flight 6E 1073 to Phuket, Thailand, at 5:30 AM on Sunday, December 7, just hours after the incident took place around midnight.

The authorities have now sought the help of Interpol to trace and arrest the promoters. Earlier in the day, the Goa Police team visited the house of Gaurav and Saurabh Lutha in Delhi and questioned their family members.

The rise and rise of Luthra brothers

Romeo Lane’s website describes Saurabh Luthra as a “gold medallist engineer turned into a promising and fastest-growing restaurateur”. A B.Tech graduate from Saurashtra University, Saurabh earned a gold medal in Software Engineering. He then spent nearly a decade in the corporate sector as a Business Development Manager, handling clients in the U.S. and U.K.

He is the chairman of the chain that has outlets in 22 cities and four countries. The website says he is “known for his public relations and organic cocktails served at his outlets”. Saurabh has won several awards in the hospitality sector over the past few years.

According to a report in The Times of India, the younger Gaurav is also an engineer and is the more calculative and calmer partner. While Saurabh is the face of the brand, Gaurav quietly handles accounts and operations for their enterprise, GS Foods Studio Pvt Ltd.

Mama’s Buoi, 2016: Saurabh and Gaurav started their journey in 2016 when they opened Mama’s Buoi, a nightclub, at Hudson Lane. Located near Civil Lines, Hudson Lane is close to Delhi University’s North Campus and a favourite hangout point for college students. Mama’s Buoi became a huge success, and the Luthra brothers got a head start.

Dramebaaz: Next to follow was Dramebaaz, a fast food joint.

Romeo Lane: They then launched a chain, Romeo Lane.

In a 2023 Instagram post, Saurabh spoke about their journey. “As I stand at this juncture, reflecting on the incredible journey started in 2016 with Mama’s Buoi in Hudson Lane to the expansion of Romeo Lane across multiple cities, it’s a rush of emotions. The overwhelming love and support received have fueled our growth in the hospitality industry. As we venture into new cities, I’m humbled by the opportunity to give back and share the warmth of hospitality. Yet, amidst this expansion, the heart always returns to its origins,” he wrote.

Birch, Caha: Months later, the brothers opened ‘Birch By Romeo Lane’ in Goa. Under Romeo Lane’s umbrella, they also launched the brand Birch (as in Birch by Romeo Lane), and another called Caha, plus other nightlife/F&B ventures. Their portfolio reportedly included restaurants, bars and clubs.

They also reputedly owned resorts and a boutique-hotel in Goa in addition to clubs.

Their net worth

The Luthra brothers are not listed on any billionaire rankings nor tied to public filings. However, Romeo Lane’s aggressive expansion suggests a valuation in the hundreds of crores.

Industry watchers estimate their annual revenue could be in the range of Rs 200-300 crore and personal net worth Rs 150-250 crore.

They own high-end Delhi homes and luxury cars.

Major lapses at Goa nightclub

According to officials, fireworks have emerged as the likely cause of the blaze at the popular party venue in Arpora village, 25 km from Panaji. The Goa Police, in its first information report (FIR), highlighted the lapses at the nightclub.

The FIR, which has been exclusively accessed by CNN-News18, stated that the fire show was organised by the club management without requisite permissions and precautions, despite knowing that this could lead to a serious fire incident. The fire started on the first floor of the club, and the youngsters could not move out due to congestion and small doors. Police investigations indicated multiple irregularities, including the absence of a No Objection Certificate from the fire department and the issuance of a licence without proper documentation. Fire officials had said earlier that the club, located on the backwater of the Arpora river, had small exit doors connected only by a narrow bridge, which severely hampered the escape of people during the blaze.

The FIR has been filed under sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 125, 125 (a), 125 (b) and 287 (negligent conduct with respect to fire) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita.

‘Profound grief’: What Saurabh Luthra posted after fire

Saurabh Luthra had used social media on Monday to express “profound grief” and vowed to provide assistance, support, and cooperation to the victims’ families in “every possible form”. “The management expresses profound grief and is deeply shaken by the tragic loss of lives resulting from the unfortunate incident at Birch,” Saurabh Luthra said in his post on Instagram.

He said the management further affirms that it shall extend every possible “form of assistance, support and cooperation to the bereaved and affected individuals, as they navigate through this period of immense anguish and adversity”.

Action against Luthra brothers

The Goa government on Monday constituted a four-member magisterial inquiry committee to ascertain the facts and circumstances that led up to the massive fire at the nightclub. Under Secretary (Home) Manthan Manoj Naik issued the order constituting the inquiry committee with North Goa District Collector Ankit Yadav as chairperson. The committee will examine the sequence of events leading to the fire, verify the compliance of all statutory licences, and determine the lapses.

In the aftermath of the fire incident, the Goa government has intensified its crackdown on the controversial Romeo Lane club chain, officials said on Monday. The North Goa district administration has sealed a beach shack and another club, both part of the Romeo Lane chain, located at Vagator and Assagao, respectively, an official said.

With PTI, ANI Inputs

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