Exclusive: Arpora Sarpanch says Birch by Romeo Lane 'under land dispute', had no permission to operate

The devastating fire at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora village that claimed 25 lives shortly after midnight, has brought to light a series of alleged violations, ignored warnings and a simmering land dispute that local authorities say had already placed the establishment under scrutiny.

Arpora sarpanch Roshan Redkar in an exclusive conversation with CNBC-TV18 said that the nightclub had no permission from the village panchayat to operate and had been functioning illegally for nearly a year.

“The so-called 'Birch by Romeo Lane' property was already under a land dispute. The panchayat had issued demolition orders, and operations [of the night] club were never approved," the sarpanch said, adding that landowners had repeatedly filed complaints, including those with the surnames Khosla and Luthra, who he said were linked to a sister concern of the Romeo Lane brand.

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The dispute between the landowners and the nightclub operators had been ongoing, with multiple submissions made to the panchayat alleging unauthorised construction and commercial activity. "We had communicated clearly that the establishment did not have permission. The dispute was active, and directions were given. Still, they continued to operate," the sarpanch told CNBC-TV18.

Despite the lack of local approval, the nightclub reportedly secured an NOC from the fire department, a decision now under intense scrutiny. A prominent Arpora-based lawyer told CNBC-TV18 that the NOC "did not comply with critical safety rules," pointing in particular to an illegally constructed kitchen on the mezzanine floor.

"There is no way an NOC should have been granted for a kitchen without a fire escape. This is illegal. One of the reasons staff could not escape was the blocked, non-compliant layout. There was also an ongoing case against the establishment," the lawyer said.

Meanwhile, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said that an FIR has been registered against the nightclub's owner and general manager. In a post on X, Sawant wrote, "I am closely reviewing the situation arising from the tragic fire incident at Arpora, in which 25 people have lost their lives and six have been injured." He added that all injured victims are currently stable and receiving treatment.

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Sawant said that this is the first incident of such scale in Goa's nightlife and announced a magisterial inquiry to determine the cause, accountability and regulatory failures that contributed to the tragedy.

Preliminary findings indicate that the blaze began on the first floor and spread rapidly. Congestion, narrow exits and blocked pathways reportedly prevented partygoers from escaping. "Some of them rushed to the ground floor and got trapped there," the chief minister said.