Goa inferno: Absconding Birch owner Saurabh Luthra breaks silence; BIG statement after 25 deaths

Goa: A day after a catastrophic fire at Birch by Romeo Lane in North Goa killed 25 people, absconding club owner Saurabh Luthra has broken his silence for the first time. Luthra, who has been untraceable since the tragedy and is currently under a police look-out circular, posted a statement expressing “profound grief” and saying the management was “deeply shaken” by the deaths.

In his Instagram post, Luthra wrote that the team stands in “unwavering solidarity” with the families of the deceased and injured.

His online appearance marks the first public acknowledgement from the owner, even as Goa Police teams have reached Delhi in search of him and his brother Gaurav Luthra, both named in the FIR.

The fire—suspected to have been sparked by electric firecrackers during a live performance—swept through the packed nightclub, trapping patrons and staff on the ground floor and in the kitchen. Many victims died due to suffocation. At the time of the blaze, between 100 and 200 people were inside.

Authorities say the nightclub was operating without mandatory fire department permissions, a lapse now under intense scrutiny. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said initial inputs show “clear violations of fire safety norms,” and has ordered action not just against the owners but also against officials who enabled the club’s functioning despite illegalities.

Police have so far arrested five individuals linked to daily operations: chief general manager Rajiv Modak, general manager Vivek Singh, bar manager Rajiv Singhania, gate manager Riyanshu Thakur, and operations manager Bharat Singh, who was detained in Delhi on Monday.

Witness accounts paint a troubling picture of the club’s ownership. Activist Tahir Noronha described Luthra as “like a ghost,” alleging he rarely remained in Goa and often avoided legal responsibilities.

Staff members echoed similar sentiments, stating he visited the club only once a month and remained distant from employees.

As investigations deepen, Goa authorities have sealed multiple establishments linked to the Romeo Lane chain, including a beach shack and another club. The state government has vowed strict accountability for both private operators and public officials responsible for permitting the venue to run without compliance.

The tragedy has ignited widespread outrage, with families demanding transparency, accountability, and swift justice.

Meanwhile, the absconding owner’s first statement—issued from an undisclosed location—has only intensified questions over responsibility, operational negligence, and the systemic failures that enabled the disaster.