New Delhi: Shilpa Shetty’s swanky Goa club Bastian Riviera is buzzing with parties and yacht plans, but dark clouds loom. India Today probe uncovers shocking
CRZ violations, ignored demolition orders, and whispers of VIP favours amid a state-wide crackdown.
Why is Shilpa’s hotspot thriving while others get sealed? Dive into the controversy shaking Goa’s beaches.
Violations exposed amid crackdown
India Today TV investigation reveals Bastian Riviera in Morjim, Goa, operates illegally despite grave Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) violations. The club, promoted by Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty, sits on backwaters off Morjim beach—a strict no-construction zone per officials and activists. This comes after a deadly fire at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub killed 25 people, sparking a Goa government drive that sealed over 10 clubs lacking NOCs, permits, or CRZ compliance.
Demolition order recalled mysteriously
On October 7, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) issued a demolition order against landowner Carrick Bend Realty LLP for alleged illegal constructions on coastal land. The order went to the Deputy Collector and Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), but no action followed. GCZMA later set it aside, citing “procedural lapses,” issuing a show-cause notice instead for a January hearing—unlike swift seals on other venues.
Landowners and Bastian management filed a review petition; the Goa bench of Bombay High Court directed GCZMA to revisit, leading to the recall. Former Goa Advocate General Carlos Ferreira noted violations fall under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, demanding restoration to the original state.
Bold staff responses and expansion talk
Club manager Avinash dismissed concerns, saying, “10,000 restaurants are illegal in Goa. Our name is also coming up as illegal, as constructed illegally, but this will keep running. You know it happens because it is Shilpa Shetty-owned. So the media cooks up and takes up their name, but we don’t care. Listen and don’t react.”
He added plans for yacht rides: “This restaurant is in partnership with Carrick Bend Realty of Goa. We are planning to introduce yacht rides here. There is no such property in Goa like this one. Parties will happen on yachts too.” A security officer confirmed, “A yacht club is being made here. Work is going on. This is not part of the hotel and will be different. Bookings will need to be made. It will take some time.” The officer alleged bribery: the local panchayat and police granted permissions for money.
Questions of special treatment
Bastian founder and CEO Ranjit Bindra denied wrongdoing, claiming valid GCZMA clearances and that the demolition order was recalled post-review. Yet, a local fisherman filed a petition in the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Pune, against the restaurant. Environmentalists question why Shilpa Shetty’s club gets extensions while others face hammers post-Birch tragedy.
The probe highlights unequal enforcement in Goa’s nightlife scene, with Bastian Riviera expanding amid probes.
