Fire-Hit Goa Nightclub Was Built Illegally On Salt Pan, Operated Without Licence: Probe Report

A government-appointed magisterial inquiry has concluded that the Goa nightclub where 25 people lost their lives in a devastating fire earlier this month was illegally constructed on a salt pan and was allowed to function despite lacking mandatory permissions.

According to the report, which was made public on Wednesday, the nightclub ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ in Arpora village of North Goa stood in the middle of a salt pan or water body, land on which construction is expressly prohibited.

The inquiry noted that erecting any structure on a salt pan is impermissible under existing laws as well as earlier regulations, and violates provisions of the Goa Land Revenue Code and Coastal Zone Regulations.

The report further revealed that the establishment continued

to operate without a valid trade licence after March 31, 2024, when its licence expired.

Despite having the authority to act, the Arpora-Nagoa village panchayat failed to seal the premises or inform other departments that relied on the panchayat-issued trade licence to grant their own approvals.

The inquiry pointed to clear administrative negligence and alleged collusion.

Statements recorded during the probe showed that the panchayat secretary admitted he had not informed line departments about the non-renewal of the trade licence, even though permissions from those departments were contingent on a valid licence from the panchayat.

The village sarpanch also acknowledged that no steps were taken to shut down the establishment or alert authorities after the licence lapsed.

The report said this conduct indicated collusion with the nightclub’s owners and violations of official conduct rules.

Serious procedural lapses were also identified in the original issuance of the licence in December 2023.

The inquiry observed that the application contained irregularities, including entries that appeared to have been added later in different ink, such as the house number and the description of the premises as a bar and nightclub.

Several mandatory documents, including approved building plans, land records and photographs, were missing from the application file.

Despite these deficiencies, the application, received on December 11, 2023, was cleared within days.

The village panchayat passed a resolution approving the licence on December 14, and the final certificate was issued on December 16, a pace the inquiry described as unusually hasty.

The panchayat secretary admitted he had not verified the house number while granting the licence to the hexagonal structure.

The report also highlighted that numerous complaints related to noise pollution and parking were lodged against the nightclub between January 2024 and December 2025.

However, these complaints were repeatedly closed with remarks stating that nothing amiss was found during inspections.

The inquiry noted that directions of the Bombay High Court at Goa concerning inspections and night patrolling in the area were not followed.

On the night of December 6, fireworks were organised at the nightclub without adequate safety precautions or fire-fighting equipment, according to a police report cited by the inquiry.

The fireworks allegedly triggered the blaze that killed 25 people, including tourists and staff.

The inquiry found that the club lacked emergency exits on both the ground and deck floors and was operating without valid permissions.

The probe also flagged forged police clearance documents and tampering with licence instruments to insert a house number.

The criminal case related to the fire is being investigated under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, negligent conduct with fire, forgery and criminal conspiracy.

Police have arrested eight people so far, including three owners of the nightclub.

Among them are Delhi-based brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, who co-owned the establishment and were deported from Thailand after fleeing India hours after the incident.

Additionally, five Goa government officials have been suspended in connection with the case.

ALSO READ | Goa Fire Case: Did Luthra Brothers Use Fake Documents To Obtain Nightclub Licence? Probe On