A 21-year-old land dispute resurfaces after the Birch by Romeo Lane fire in Goa. Claimant Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar alleges wrongful land takeover, illegal zone conversion, and secret dealings involving the nightclub’s owners. Authorities say an inquiry is underway.
25 Dead, Now a Land Row: New Twist in Goa Club Disaster
New Delhi: Goa’s Arpora is once again in the spotlight—not just because of the devastating fire at Birch by Romeo Lane, which claimed 25 lives, but also due to a fresh land ownership controversy. A man named Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar has alleged that the land on which the nightclub stood was wrongfully taken over to construct the club.
Amonkar claims he originally signed a sale agreement in 2004 with one Surinder Kumar Khosla for the Arpora property. However, within six months, the deal collapsed due to non-payment.
Luthra Brothers Seek Four-Week Anticipatory Bail in Goa Fire Tragedy; Court Demands Police Reply
According to Amonkar:
Khosla later set up a nightclub on the disputed plot.
The property was eventually taken over by Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of Birch by Romeo Lane.
He has been fighting in court for 21 years to reclaim the land, with ongoing litigation against Khosla.
On December 6, a catastrophic fire tore through the nightclub, killing 25 people, including tourists and staff. The tragedy led Amonkar to closely review documents as he prepared to move the high court against the club.
Luthra Brothers detained in Thailand
During this process, he says he discovered something shocking:
A portion of the land had been converted from a salt pan to a settlement zone
This change allegedly happened without his knowledge or consent
Amonkar questions:
“How can a salt pan be converted into a settlement zone without notifying the landowner?”
He alleges that the zoning alteration was done to benefit the club operations, calling it a blatant violation of procedure.
A senior official from the Goa Town and Country Planning Department said they cannot comment at this stage since an official inquiry is underway into the allegations and the zoning change.
Rohini Court Rejects Anticipatory Bail of Luthra Brothers in Goa Nightclub Fire Case
The Arpora land dispute adds another layer of complexity to the tragedy surrounding Birch by Romeo Lane. As investigations continue—into both the fire and the land ownership claims—more details are expected to surface, potentially reshaping the narrative around one of Goa’s most high-profile club disasters.
