Goa nightclub fire: IPS officers accused of shielding Birch by Romeo Lane from police checks

Goa nightclub fire

A senior police officer intimately involved with the case has alleged that the devastating fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on Saturday night, could have been prevented. Local police attempts to scrutinise the establishment’s permits and compliance were repeatedly obstructed by senior IPS officers, both serving and retired, according to a TOI report.

The official claims that two separate police units — the Anjuna police station and the crime branch — were actively pursuing the venue for documentation and permissions required to operate legally. In both instances, these investigations were allegedly shut down by higher-ranking IPS officials.

The sequence of alleged interference began during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Then Anjuna police inspector Prashal Desai sought information from the nightclub regarding its operational permissions. His efforts were reportedly stopped by a top IPS officer, who has since retired.

Undaunted, within two months, crime branch DSP Rajesh Kumar issued a formal notice to the club. The notice stated he had received information about violations and required the owners to present all permissions in person at the crime branch office. DSP Kumar was allegedly stopped by the same retired IPS officer.

The pressure continued into August of last year. After Anjuna PI Paresh Naik registered FIRs against five area nightclubs, including Birch by Romeo Lane, for allegedly playing loud music, the investigating officer faced direct intervention. Then DSP (Mapusa) Sandesh Chodankar was reportedly instructed by one senior IPS officer not to confront the Birch owners, while another officer pressured him to file a closure report for the case.

The officer familiar with the investigation reportedly stated that obtaining the call records of all IPS officers who have served in Goa would directly link them to the nightclub’s owners.

These allegations surfaced as the state government took action against three other officials in the aftermath of the tragedy. Former director of panchayats Siddhi Halarnkar, former member-secretary of the Goa State Pollution Control Board Shamila Monteiro and former secretary of Arpora-Nagoa village panchayat Reghuvir Bagkar were suspended on Sunday.

This move prompted state revenue minister Atanasio “Babush” Monserrate to publicly question the government’s approach. He raised the issue of whether the administration would similarly suspend IAS and IPS officers found to be involved in any wrongdoing, as it had with the suspended Goa cadre officers.