The Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, the site of a devastating fire that claimed 25 lives last month, had been flagged for illegal construction by revenue officials in 2024, the Goa government has revealed. The information was presented to the legislative assembly, shedding light on the regulatory oversights that preceded the tragedy.
Documents presented to the House by State Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserratte, indicate that the nightclub was constructed on illegally converted land, specifically a salt pan, and involved the demolition of a traditional sluice gate. The original owners of the property, Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar and Sunil Divkar, had complained to the Bardez taluka mamlatdar (revenue officer) on December 21, 2023, about the illegal construction by Maizon Lake View Resort, which was later leased and renamed Birch by Romeo Lane. Their complaint stated that construction occurred without land conversion or zone changes, and the "traditional sluice gate was demolished". They also alleged that the establishment was "discharging sewage into the Baga River".
The nightclub, located in Arpora, North Goa, operated without a valid trade license after March 31, 2024. A magisterial inquiry highlighted that the Arpora-Nagoa village panchayat did not seal the premises or inform other departments about the expired license, pointing to administrative negligence and potential collusion. The inquiry also revealed irregularities in the initial license issuance in December 2023, including added entries and a failure to verify the house number.
Raghuvir Bagkar, the former panchayat secretary of Arpora, was arrested in connection with the fire. The probe revealed that Bagkar allowed the nightclub to operate despite its expired trade license and approved land use with a fictitious house number. He also allegedly permitted illegal construction of nearby shops and tenements on protected salt pan land in violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms.
The fire at Birch by Romeo Lane broke out around 11:45 p.m. on December 6, 2025, during a dance party. Initial reports suggested a cylinder blast, but eyewitnesses indicated the fire began on the first floor, possibly due to the use of pyrotechnics. Dried palm leaves used for decoration contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. The narrow entrance and exit hindered firefighting efforts.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has stated that the fire was caused by internal fireworks and that the limited number of exits contributed to the casualties. He also announced financial aid of Rs 5 lakh for the victims' families. Sawant has ordered a probe into violations dating back to 1999, as the nightclub operated under different names over the years.
The Goa government has initiated a wider audit of clubs and venues across the state to prevent similar incidents. The Coastal Zone Management Authority (CZMA) has received 534 complaints between 2021 and 2025 and issued 336 demolition orders.
