Goa Police have intensified their investigation into the deadly fire at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on Saturday night. Authorities have arrested a fifth accused and dispatched a team to Delhi to trace Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the directors of the company that operated the nightclub.

On Sunday, the club’s chief general manager, gate manager, bar manager, and general manager were arrested in connection with the incident. The fifth person taken into custody has been identified as Bharat, who was reportedly involved in the club’s daily operations. Meanwhile, the Luthra brothers, who run a multi-city restaurant chain and two other establishments in Goa, have been booked under sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 125(a) and (b) (acts endangering the lives and personal safety of others), and 287 (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Investigations have revealed multiple safety lapses at Birch by Romeo Lane that contributed to the scale of the tragedy. These include an inadequate number of exits, a thatched roof, highly combustible interior finishes, stacks of alcohol, and flammable furnishings. The basement of the club, where many victims were trapped, had poor ventilation and obstructed egress routes. According to a fire department report, these factors led to rapid smoke accumulation, high concentrations of toxic gases like carbon monoxide, and zero-visibility conditions in escape routes, causing many victims to succumb within minutes.

The club, branded as Goa’s first island club, began operations in December 2023 despite an earlier demolition notice. Authorities found that the land on which it was built was a salt pan, making it ineligible for a construction license. Two of the Luthra brothers’ three Goa establishments are facing demolition over environmental violations, and all three have been sealed by authorities.

Safety concerns had been raised earlier by BJP legislator Sankalp Amonkar, who highlighted illegal construction and large-scale back-filling of ecologically sensitive land without permissions. Despite a village panchayat issuing a demolition notice in April 2024, authorities had failed to take action, allowing the club to continue operations until the tragedy occurred.

As the investigation continues, police in Goa are focused on tracing the Luthra brothers in Delhi and examining lapses that contributed to one of the deadliest nightclub fires in the state. The case has intensified scrutiny of safety compliance, regulatory enforcement, and accountability in Goa’s nightlife and hospitality sector.