Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out search operations at multiple locations associated with nightclub owners Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra in Delhi and Goa, intensifying its probe into the case linked to a fatal fire at a Goa nightclub.
Officials said the searches were conducted at a total of eight premises — five in the national capital and three in Goa — as part of an ongoing financial investigation. The action comes over a month after the brothers were taken into custody by Goa Police.
The Luthra brothers own the nightclub Birch by Romeo Lane in Goa, where a devastating fire broke out on December 6 last year, claiming the lives of 25 people. The incident had sparked widespread outrage and raised questions over safety norms and regulatory compliance at entertainment venues.
Following the fire, the two brothers reportedly left the country within hours and travelled to Thailand. However, their stay abroad was short-lived. Indian authorities had suspended their passports, after which they were deported from Bangkok using emergency travel certificates issued by the Indian embassy. They were subsequently arrested by Goa Police at the Delhi airport on December 17 upon arrival.
Sources indicated that the ED’s searches are aimed at examining financial records and tracing possible irregularities connected to the nightclub’s operations. Officials have not yet disclosed details of any seizures or findings, stating that the investigation is still in progress.
The case continues to be closely watched as multiple agencies probe different aspects of the incident, including alleged lapses that may have led to one of the deadliest fires in Goa’s recent history.
