Demolition work commenced Monday at Romeo Lane, a popular beach shack in Vagator owned by the Luthra brothers, after Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant ordered its immediate removal for being an illegal structure on government land. The action follows intense scrutiny triggered by last week’s devastating fire at Birch by Romeo Lane, another venue owned by the same family, which claimed 25 lives and exposed widespread safety violations in Goa’s nightlife establishments.

Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, facing charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, fled the country within hours of the blaze, taking an IndiGo flight to Phuket in Thailand. Goa Police have issued a Blue Corner Notice through Interpol to locate the brothers and gather information on their movements, a precursor to possible extradition proceedings. The duo had built a high-profile hospitality empire, starting with the successful Delhi nightclub Mama’s Buoi before expanding the Romeo Lane brand to Goa and Haryana, cultivating an image of luxury and exclusivity through lavish social media promotion.

The fire at Birch erupted during a crowded “Bollywood Banger Night” event when pyrotechnics malfunctioned and ignited the venue’s extensive bamboo interiors. Located on an island accessible only by a narrow bridge, the club proved nearly impossible for fire tenders to reach quickly. Investigations have revealed the absence of fire safety clearances, inadequate emergency exits, and non-compliance with coastal regulation zone norms, turning what was marketed as Goa’s “first and only island club” into a deadly trap.

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The demolition of Romeo Lane and the ongoing manhunt for the Luthra brothers have intensified calls for stricter regulation of Goa’s booming nightlife and tourism sector. Chief Minister Sawant has pledged a comprehensive audit of all hospitality venues, while authorities signal a tougher stance on illegal constructions along the state’s ecologically sensitive coastline, aiming to restore public confidence shaken by one of the deadliest incidents in recent Goan history.

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