Goa landowner warned for 20 years before nightclub fire killed 25

The massive fire that tore through Birch by Romeo Lane, a popular restaurant-cum-club in North Goa’s Arpora village on December 7, has now claimed 25 lives , most of them staff members and a few tourists. As rescue operations conclude, a chain of irregularities, ownership disputes and ignored warnings is coming to light, prompting the state government to widen the investigation.

The blaze broke out late on Saturday night, engulfing multiple sections of the establishment within minutes. Preliminary assessments suggest that a short-circuit or electrical malfunction may have triggered the fire, but forensic teams are yet to submit their final report. Officials said the interiors were heavily packed with combustible material, which allowed the fire to spread rapidly.

Since the tragedy, the focus has shifted to how the club continued to operate despite a series of complaints and regulatory violations. Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar, the original owner of the land where the club stood, said he had been raising red flags for nearly 20 years . He claimed that in 2004, his land sale agreement with Surinder Kumar Khosla collapsed after the latter failed to make the payment. However, Khosla continued to retain control of the plots, built structures without permission and facilitated commercial operations before the premises were later taken over by the Luthra brothers, owners of Birch by Romeo Lane.

Amonkar lodged multiple complaints with the Arpora-Nagoa panchayat, which eventually issued a demolition notice in February 2024. But Khosla challenged it and obtained a stay from the Directorate of Panchayats, effectively blocking action. Amonkar said his ongoing civil case against Khosla has been stuck in court for two decades while illegal activities on the land continued unchecked.

The fire has now sparked a blame game between the panchayat and the state government. The Chief Minister’s Office has accused the panchayat of issuing NOCs for electricity, water, house repairs and trade licence renewals, alleging that the club continued operations even after its licence expired in March 2024. The panchayat, however, said its hands were tied due to the stay order, which prevented the demolition or sealing of the premises under Section 72-A of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act.

Amid mounting public anger, police have arrested some staff and managers linked to the nightclub’s operations. With landowner Amonkar openly alleging that Surinder Khosla is the main accused and warning that he “may flee the country,” investigators are now examining documents, ownership records and previous complaints to determine further culpability.