Total assets attached or frozen in money laundering probe rise to Rs 29.05 crore after latest action by ED
PANAJI
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has provisionally attached immovable properties worth Rs 11.01 crore as part of its money laundering investigation into the alleged illegal operations of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, where a massive fire in December 2025 claimed 25 lives.
The investigation began following FIRs registered by Goa Police at Anjuna and Mapusa police stations against Saurabh Luthra and others under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
The ED said the FIRs relate not only to the devastating fire incident of December 6, 2025, but also to allegations of forgery involving fake and fabricated No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and other statutory documents allegedly used to obtain regulatory approvals for the establishment.
The ED investigation found that the nightclub was being operated by M/s Being GS Hospitality Goa Arpora LLP without mandatory approvals, including a valid Fire NOC.
“The partners of the establishment had submitted forged and fabricated documents, including a fake Health NOC and a forged Police Clearance Certificate, to obtain licences and present the establishment as legally compliant,” the ED said. It added that the partners continued commercial operations despite knowing that mandatory licences had either not been obtained or had expired.
The ED said the trade licence of the establishment had expired on March 31, 2024, and was never renewed, yet the business allegedly continued operations afterwards.
“The establishment generated revenue of around Rs 29.78 crore between FY 2023-24 and December 6, 2025, which has now been identified as proceeds of crime under the PMLA,” the agency said.
Earlier in January this year, the ED conducted searches at multiple premises linked to the case, leading to the seizure of incriminating documents and digital devices, besides freezing bank accounts containing around Rs 59 lakh.
Officials said a previous provisional attachment order worth Rs 17.45 crore had already been issued in the case. With the latest attachment and freezing, the total value of assets attached or frozen in the investigation has now risen to around Rs 29.05 crore.
