Goa nightclub fire: Illegal salt pan structure, collusion with officials; what probe report revealed
A magisterial inquiry found a Goa nightclub, where 25 died in a fire, was illegally built on a salt pan and operated without valid permissions. Systemic failures and alleged collusion by local authorities were highlighted, as the village panchayat issued a license despite it not being renewed, allowing the club to continue functioning.
NEW DELHI: A government-constituted magisterial inquiry has found that the Goa nightclub where a devastating fire killed 25 people in early December was built illegally on a salt pan and operated for months without valid permissions, pointing to systemic failures and alleged collusion by local authorities, as reported by news agency PTI.The fire broke out late on December 6 during a crowded event after fireworks were set off without adequate safety measures or equipment. The club lacked emergency exits on both floors and was operating without valid permissions. The blaze killed 25 people, including tourists and staff.
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The report, made public on Wednesday, said the structure of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, North Goa, stood in the middle of a salt pan or water body and was “not permissible under any law”, either current or past, violating the Goa Land Revenue Code and Coastal Zone Regulations.The inquiry revealed that the village panchayat issued an establishment licence to the operator in December 2023, valid only until March 31, 2024. Despite the licence not being renewed, the premises continued to function as a bar and nightclub, with no steps taken by the panchayat to seal it, even though the Goa Panchayat Raj Act empowers such action.Also read: Birch staff tried to douse fire with a glass and water bottle: Survivor Statements recorded during the probe showed that senior panchayat officials were aware of the lapse but failed to inform other departments, which continued granting permissions based on the expired trade licence.
The report concluded that this amounted to collusion with the owners and a violation of conduct rules, PTI reported.Serious irregularities were also flagged in the original licensing process. The inquiry noted alleged forgery in the application, including entries added later in different ink, missing mandatory documents such as approved plans and land records, and a hurried approval process completed within days.
Officials admitted they had not verified the house number or legality of the structure before issuing the licence.
Despite multiple complaints over noise pollution and parking between January 2024 and December 2025, inspections repeatedly recorded “nothing found on the spot”, and directions of the Bombay High Court regarding night patrolling were not followed.Police have registered the case under several Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, negligence, forgery and criminal conspiracy. Eight people have been arrested so far, including co-owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra.(With PTI inputs)