Their rapid rise, however, was not without controversy, especially in Goa where their venues faced complaints about permits and safety compliances.
In 2024, police launched an investigation against the property for allegedly playing loud music, which was way above the permissible limits, after a few residents filed a complaint. The case, of which the BBC has seen a copy, is ongoing.
Before that in 2023, a resident filed a complaint with local authorities against the venue, alleging that it was illegally constructed in an ecologically sensitive zone.
The BBC has a copy of the complaint, which also alleged that the venue was discharging untreated sewage “directly into the ecologically sensitive Baga river, which ultimately connects to the Arabian Sea, causing substantial environmental pollution”. The complaint does not mention the brothers directly but refers to their local business partner.
However, in November, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority closed the case, concluding that the structures housing the nightclub were legal and fell outside the legally protected coastal areas.
Then earlier in May, Goa’s Tourism Department issued orders to demolish parts of Romeo Lane in Vagator – a second property owned by the brothers – for encroaching on public beach land.
Action was taken only this month, when a portion of the structure was demolished under orders from the chief minister days after the deadly blaze.
But unlike in Delhi, where they led an outwardly public life, the brothers were virtually unknown in Goa, says Tahir Noronha, a local architect, who has been at the forefront of protests against the Romeo Lane properties.
“They were like ghosts. Even during court proceedings, they would send a manager to represent them, never showing up themselves,” he said.
In court filings, the brothers have argued that they were “licensees, not operators” of the venue and had no direct control over the day-to-day safety regulations of the club. The BBC has reached out to Romeo Lane for comment.
As investigators piece together the events that led to the fire, the story of the brothers continues to unfold – on TV, newspapers and mobile apps.
The Luthra brothers have become household names, but not for the reasons they had hoped.