What Goa Nightclub Fire Probe Revealed: Illegal Construction, No Licence, Official Lapses

A government-appointed magisterial inquiry has found that the Goa nightclub where a deadly fire killed 25 people earlier this month was built illegally on a salt pan and allowed to operate for months without

a valid trade licence, pointing to serious regulatory failures and alleged collusion by local officials.Nightclub Built on Salt Pan, Violated Land LawsThe report, made public on Wednesday, said the nightclub - Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora village of North Goa - was constructed in the middle of a salt pan, a location where any structure is “not permissible under any law.”Based on a revised site sketch, the inquiry said the hexagonal structure stood on a salt pan or water body, in violation of the Goa Land Revenue Code and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms. Converting a salt pan for commercial use violated Section 32 of the Land Revenue Code, the report said.

Operated Without Valid LicenceAccording to the inquiry, the Arpora-Nagoa village panchayat issued an establishment licence on December 16, 2023, to Being GS Hospitality Goa Arpora LLP to run a bar, restaurant and nightclub. The licence expired on March 31, 2024, and was never renewed.Despite this, the premises continued to operate, and no action was taken by the panchayat to seal it, even though the Goa Panchayat Raj Act empowers local bodies to shut down businesses running without licences.The report cited statements from panchayat secretary Raghuvir Bagkar, who admitted he did not inform other departments about the non-renewal of the licence. Village sarpanch Roshan Redkar also acknowledged that no departments were alerted and the premises were not sealed.

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The inquiry said this conduct “establishes collusion” between panchayat officials and the nightclub’s owners.Forged Records, Hasty Clearances FlaggedThe report flagged alleged forgery and procedural lapses in the 2023 licence application, noting that key entries appeared to have been added later in different ink. Mandatory documents such as approved plans, land records and photographs were missing.The application was received on December 11, 2023, approved by a panchayat resolution on December 14, and the licence issued on December 16, a process the inquiry described as rushed.Multiple complaints related to noise pollution and parking were recorded between January 2024 and December 2025, but were repeatedly closed with remarks that nothing was found during inspections.Fireworks Triggered Blaze, No Safety MeasuresCiting a police report, the inquiry said fireworks were used at the nightclub on the night of December 6 “without taking proper care and caution” and without adequate fire safety equipment, triggering the blaze.The club lacked emergency exits on both the ground and deck floors and was operating without valid safety permissions, the report said.Arrests, Suspensions and Criminal ChargesThe case is being investigated under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, negligence endangering life, forgery and criminal conspiracy.

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Police have arrested eight people so far, including nightclub co-owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, who fled to Thailand hours after the fire and were deported back to India on December 17. Five Goa government officials have been suspended in connection with the case.The findings were reviewed at a meeting chaired by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, and the full report has been released to the public.(With inputs from PTI)