Arya News - Authorities have issued a look-out circular (LOC) against the owners of Birch by Romeo Lane after a devastating fire in Arpora killed 25 people. Owner Saurabh Luthra released a statement expressing “profound grief” and pledged cooperation with victims’ families.
NEW DELHI – Goa Police have issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against club owners Saurav and Gaurav Luthra in connection with the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub fire in Arpora, tightening the investigation into one of the state’s deadliest recent tragedies. The move comes as multiple police teams fan out across states, with one unit reaching Delhi and arresting the fifth accused, Bharat Kohli, who oversaw daily operations at the club.
The action adds to the growing list of arrests since the blaze, which claimed 25 lives and left six injured, triggered a wave of grief and outrage across Goa.
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Birch owner issues condolence statement
As the investigation widened, Saurabh Luthra, the owner of Birch restaurant, issued a public statement expressing “profound grief” over the tragedy. Calling the incident an hour of “irreparable sorrow and overwhelming distress,” the management said it stood in “unwavering solidarity” with the families of those who lost their lives and those injured.
The statement conveyed heartfelt condolences “with utmost sincerity” and assured that Birch would extend “every possible form of assistance, support and cooperation” to the bereaved and affected individuals navigating a period of “immense anguish and adversity”.
The note did not comment on the ongoing police action or the LOC issued against the owners.
Goa CM orders magisterial probe
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday announced a magisterial inquiry into the fire and said strict action would follow against anyone found violating safety norms. He confirmed that the nightclub’s general manager has been arrested, and that authorities have issued an arrest warrant for the owner.
Sawant, who visited the site early in the morning to assess the scale of destruction, told NDTV that the government was committed to ensuring accountability “at every level”. He also instructed district authorities to speed up assistance for families of the victims and coordinate with hospitals treating the injured.
The Chief Minister said the fire broke out around 12 am, trapping several people inside. When asked if negligence was involved, he reiterated that a probe would determine whether fire safety norms were followed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief, saying he had spoken to Sawant for updates. “The fire mishap in Arpora, Goa is deeply saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest,” he wrote on X.
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Investigation expands as victim identification continues
The fire at Birch by Romeo Lane, located in Arpora’s bustling Baga belt, sent shockwaves through the hospitality industry during peak tourist season. Goa Police earlier confirmed that among the 25 victims, four were tourists and 14 were staff members, while the identities of seven individuals remain to be verified.
Rescue and forensic teams have been examining the charred structure to piece together how the blaze spread so quickly and why so many people were unable to escape. The LOC against the Luthra brothers and the arrest of Bharat Kohli indicate that investigators are now moving to track down every individual linked to operational decisions at the club.