Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Goa Expands Birch Nightclub Fire Probe to Violations Since 1999, Seals 22 Venues

Officials will release the completed inquiry report only after filing a chargesheet.

Overview

  • Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told the assembly the investigation will track permits and violations dating back to 1999, when the club was cleared on tenanted land.
  • Authorities inspected 86 coastal establishments and sealed 22 for operating without a fire licence and pollution control consent.
  • A Red Corner notice has been issued against club owner Surinder Khosla, the chief minister said.
  • Reporting on the probe indicates the club was built on a salt pan and operated without a licence, while the outlet had changed names over the years.
  • Officials cited broader compliance gaps with 534 CRZ complaints and 336 demolition orders from 2021 to 2025, as the crackdown follows a fire that killed 25 people.