The contrast between Luthra’s image as an ambitious hospitality mogul and the conditions at his nightclub has ignited outrage.

GOA: Saurabh Luthra—listed on his LinkedIn page as “Chairman at Romeo Lane, Birch and Mama’s Buoi” and once profiled by Forbes India as a rising star—has come under sharp scrutiny after the devastating Arpora nightclub fire that claimed 25 lives. In the aftermath, activists and survivors have painted a picture of an elusive hospitality entrepreneur who rarely showed up in Goa even as his ventures expanded across the state.Activist Tahir Noronha, who had earlier pursued action against Luthra for repeatedly violating noise pollution rules in Anjuna, described him starkly: “Saurabh Luthra is like a ghost. He opens branches everywhere, so he barely stays in Goa for long. We got an FIR filed against him, but he never appeared for any of the hearings. Only his representatives came. That’s how out of touch he is with the impact of his ventures.”

As per a TOI report, those from Goa’s social circles echoed this sentiment, calling Luthra “very aloof” and someone who kept entirely to himself. Even staff members at Birch by Romeo Lane said they barely knew the man who ran the establishment.“He’d visit the premises once a month,” said Jayesh Diukar, a kitchen employee who survived the blaze. “He kept to his circle and never interacted with the kitchen staff.”The contrast between Luthra’s image as an ambitious hospitality mogul and the conditions at his nightclub has ignited outrage. Multiple investigations have revealed alleged lapses, including the absence of a fire department NOC, narrow escape routes and inadequate safety infrastructure. For many, these oversights turned a thriving nightlife destination into a deadly trap.For grieving families, the tragedy was not an accident but a failure of responsibility. “If even basic fire alarms or sprinklers had been in place, 25 lives could have been saved,” said a relative of one victim.Adding to the criticism, Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) president Jack Sukhija confirmed that Luthra was never registered with the association despite running major tourism-linked businesses in the state. “He is registered only with the panchayat,” Sukhija said, underscoring the gaps in formal oversight.Luthra, now wanted by Goa Police, issued a social media statement expressing “profound grief” and promising full cooperation. But as investigations deepen, questions loom over his leadership, accountability and the systemic lapses that allowed an unlicensed, unsafe establishment to operate unchecked—until tragedy struck.(With agency inputs)