Key Highlights
- A Mumbai woman alleged assault by Romeo Lane Goa staff on November 1, 2025, prompting an FIR against the manager and security.
- The beach shack by Romeo Lane in Vagator was demolished this week by order of Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant amid safety violations.
- Owners Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra fled to Thailand after a December 6 fire at their Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub killed 25 people.
Romeo Lane Goa: Incident Sparks Outrage
Goa nightclub safety concerns erupted last month when Vaibhav Chandel, a Mumbai resident, filed a case against staff at the beach shack by Romeo Lane in Vagator. On November 1, Chandel visited with 13 family members and described the venue as suffocating with only one elevated entry and exit point. Staff reportedly spoke rudely and escalated tensions when a cousin moved a chair blocking their path around 3 a.m. The manager allegedly grabbed the cousin’s collar, insulted their status, and summoned bouncers who chased and assaulted the group with rods.
Chandel recounted bouncers hitting her sister on the chest, causing a fall down stairs, and attacking her brother severely after he removed a barricade at the gate. She claimed staff slapped her while trying to protect her brother and used abusive language throughout. The family delayed reporting due to injuries but filed an FIR at Anjuna police station the next day after persistent efforts. Named in the complaint were manager Ajay Kavitkar, staffer Junaid Ali, security personnel, and owners Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, though police excluded the brothers as they were absent.
This Romeo Lane Goa incident highlighted broader vulnerabilities in Goa’s nightlife scene, where tourist influx strains unregulated venues. Chandel warned that neglecting women’s and tourist safety invites repeated tragedies in Goa. Her account gained urgency days after a catastrophic fire at the Luthras’ Birch by Romeo Lane, amplifying calls for accountability in the Romeo Lane Goa operations.
"Hit Us, Abused": Woman Alleges Assault At Luthras' Demolished Goa Clubhttps://t.co/xBdrsXtZbv
— ANIL KUMAR (@anilkumar20375) December 13, 2025
Fire Tragedy Shatters Goa Nightlife
- December 6 blaze at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora killed 25, mostly staff trapped in the basement.
- Venue lacked fire exits and was built illegally on government land, violating multiple safety norms.
- Owners fled hours later, prompting Interpol notice and demolitions of affiliated Romeo Lane Goa sites.
The Romeo Lane Goa saga intensified on December 6, 2025, when a fire ravaged Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in North Goa’s Arpora, claiming 25 lives and injuring 50. Most victims suffocated in the basement without escape routes, while three died from burns. Firefighters battled narrow access lanes for two hours to control the blaze, which started around 11:45 p.m. during a dance event with pyrotechnics.
Preliminary probes pointed to a short circuit above the stage or fireworks sparks in the flammable wood-and-bamboo structure. Kitchen staff bore the brunt, trapped below ground. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant called it a painful day and ordered a high-level inquiry, plus fire audits for all nightclubs. By December 14, authorities shut Goya Club and Cafe CO2 in Vagator for illegal construction and missing fire NOC.
Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, in Delhi during the fire, boarded an IndiGo flight to Phuket at 5:30 a.m. the next day. Interpol issued a blue corner notice, and a police team traveled to Thailand for deportation. Co-owner Ajay Gupta was detained in Delhi. The Romeo Lane beach shack in Vagator faced demolition this week on Sawant’s orders, exposed as illegal post-assault FIR at the heart of Romeo Lane Goa troubles.
Legal Actions and Owner Flight
- FIR against Romeo Lane staff for assault; Luthra brothers excluded initially but charged in fire case.
- Court extended police custody of Luthra brothers post-deportation in nightclub fire probe.
- High-level committee probes violations, expected report within a week.
Police filed charges of culpable homicide against the Luthra brothers and staff after the fire, sealing the site for investigation. The Vagator Romeo Lane shack’s demolition followed scrutiny of its single-entry design, flagged in Chandel’s complaint as a safety hazard mirroring Arpora’s basement trap. Goa Police pasted notices at the owners’ residence when they vanished, later tracing their Phuket escape via Bureau of Immigration.
A Goa court extended custody of the Luthra brothers, now back in India, as probes delve into emergency exits, ventilation, and pyrotechnics use. The property owner, UK national Surinder Kumar Khosla, also faces lookout notice. Chandel noted police reluctance to include the Luthras in her FIR, citing absence, but the fire linked their Romeo Lane Goa empire to systemic negligence.
Goa government data underscores the crisis: North Goa hosts over 200 beach shacks and clubs, with 15% operating without fire NOC as of 2024 per state fire services records. RBI tourism reports show Goa welcomed 8.5 million visitors in 2024, generating Rs 15,000 crore, yet safety lapses persist in Romeo Lane Goa venues.
| Goa Nightlife Safety Violations (2024-2025) | Count | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Clubs without Fire NOC | 32 | Goa Fire Services |
| Illegal constructions on govt land | 18 | Goa Revenue Dept |
| Single-entry venues flagged | 12 | Tourism Dept Audit |
| Post-fire audits ordered | All 150+ | CM Office |
Broader Safety Crisis in Goa
- 25 fire deaths highlight suffocation risks in basements without exits.
- Demolition of Romeo Lane shack ties assault claims to structural flaws.
- State mandates audits amid tourism boom straining regulations.
Goa nightclub safety failures extend beyond Romeo Lane. The Arpora fire exposed basement traps, narrow lanes, and pyrotechnics in combustible builds, killing mostly low-wage staff. Chandel’s “suffocating” description of Vagator’s single elevated entry echoed these, where patrons struggled during assaults and hypothetical evacuations.
IMF tourism data notes India’s sector grew 12% in 2025, with Goa contributing 20% of beach nightlife revenue. Yet, WHO global fire safety stats rank India high in venue blazes, with 70% fatalities from smoke in confined spaces. Goa Medical College post-mortems confirmed suffocation in 22 Arpora cases.
Authorities demolished the Romeo Lane beach shack and audited affiliates, closing two more for violations. CM Sawant assured stable care for six injured, but families demand justice. Chandel’s push for women’s safety resonates as Goa eyes 10 million tourists by 2026 per state tourism policy, putting pressure on Romeo Lane Goa standards.
| Tourist Incidents in Goa (2024) | Cases | Fatalities | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assaults at nightlife venues | 47 | 0 | Goa Police |
| Fire violations probed | 22 | 25 (2025) | Fire Dept |
| Illegal shacks demolished | 15 | N/A | Revenue Dept |
Ownership Empire Under Scrutiny
- Luthra brothers built Romeo Lane from humble beginnings to multiple venues.
- Fire charges include culpable homicide; brothers detained post-Thailand escape.
- Vagator assault FIR exposes pattern predating Arpora blaze.
Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra rose from modest roots to dominate Goa’s nightlife with Romeo Lane outlets. Their Birch venue marketed as an “island paradise,” but safety shortcuts proved fatal. Post-fire flight to Phuket drew swift Interpol action, with deportation by December 21.
The November assault at Vagator’s Romeo Lane revealed early red flags: rude staff, physical violence, barricades hindering exit. Chandel’s group of 13 faced group beatings in the confined space, mirroring fire victims’ plight. Police charged manager Kavitkar and Ali, but owners’ influence allegedly softened initial FIR in this Romeo Lane Goa controversy.
Goa Revenue Department records 40 illegal nightlife builds since 2023, many on coastal land. RBI FY25 report values Goa’s tourism at Rs 18,000 crore, urging safety investments. Luthra custody extension signals deepening probe into their Romeo Lane Goa operations.
Closing Assessment
The Romeo Lane Goa incidents expose a perilous underbelly in India’s premier party destination, where assault claims and a deadly fire claim 25 lives amid glaring safety voids. Demolition of the Vagator shack and Luthra brothers’ custody mark steps forward, yet systemic flaws persist: single exits, basement traps, illegal builds on government land. Chandel’s ordeal underscores tourist vulnerability, demanding rigorous enforcement.
Goa must prioritize fire NOCs and structural audits to safeguard its 10 million annual visitors. Official data from fire services reveals 32 non-compliant clubs, a ticking bomb fueled by tourism gold rush. Without reform, Romeo Lane Goa safety remains a facade, inviting more tragedies. Thoughtful regulation can restore faith, turning cautionary tales into secure havens.
