Vagator: Goa authorities on Tuesday began demolishing Romeo Lane, a beach shack at Vagator owned by brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, acting on the directions of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, officials said.
The demolition commenced Tuesday evening, according to PTI, with visuals of the action quickly circulating on social media. The move comes amid an intensified search for the Luthra brothers, who are accused in connection with a deadly fire that ripped through their nightclub-cum-restaurant, Birch by Romeo Lane, late Saturday night, killing 25 people.
Police said the brothers fled the country within hours of the blaze. According to Goa Police, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra boarded an IndiGo flight from New Delhi to Phuket at 5.30 a.m. on Sunday. A lookout circular has been issued, and Indian agencies are coordinating with Thai authorities to trace their location in Phuket and secure their deportation.
“The Bureau of Immigration at Mumbai was contacted and it was found that both the accused had taken 6E 1073 flight (New Delhi to Phuket) at 5.30 a.m. on December 7,” Deputy Superintendent of Police and public relations officer Nilesh Rane said.
Police teams that visited the brothers’ residence in north Delhi on Monday found the house locked, officials added.
The fire broke out at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora around 11.45 p.m. Saturday, tearing through the approximately 300-square-meter property. Of the 25 victims, 20 were staff members, while five were tourists, including four members of a family from Delhi.
Goa Police registered a first information report at 9.30 a.m. Sunday, naming the Luthra brothers and unidentified others. They have been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for culpable homicide not amounting to murder (Section 105), acts endangering life and personal safety (Section 125(a)(b)), and negligent handling of fire or combustible materials (Section 287).
Five arrests have been made so far in the case. Chief General Manager Rajiv Modak, gate manager Priyanshu Thakur, bar manager Rajveer Singhania and general manager Vivek Singh were arrested on Sunday. On Monday, police arrested Bharat Singh Kohli, who they said was managing the establishment’s day-to-day operations on behalf of the owners.
Investigations into the cause of the fire and alleged safety lapses at the venue are ongoing, officials said.
