NT Reporter
Panaji
The Special Court, North Goa, will hold the first hearing on July 9 in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case against Saurabh Luthra and others in connection with the investigation into the alleged illegal operation of the establishment, Birch by Romeo Lane, at Arpora.
Last month, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Panaji Zonal Office, filed a prosecution complaint under PMLA against Saurabh Luthra, Gaurav Luthra, Ajay Gupta, Surinder Kumar Khosla and M/s Being GS Hospitality Goa Arpora LLP.
In May, the ED provisionally attached properties worth approximately Rs 29.05 crore under the PMLA. The agency initiated its investigation based on FIRs registered by Anjuna and Mapusa police against Saurabh Luthra and others under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
The FIRs relate not only to the major fire on December 6, 2025, in which 25 people died and several others were injured, but also to alleged offences involving forged documents, including fake and fabricated NOCs and other statutory documents allegedly used to obtain regulatory approvals.
The ED said its investigation revealed that the establishment was operated by Being GS Hospitality without mandatory statutory approvals, including a fire NOC.
It alleged that the partners submitted forged and fabricated documents, including a fake health NOC and a forged police clearance certificate, to obtain licences and project the establishment as legitimate.
The ED further said its investigation revealed that the partners, in connivance with each other, knowingly continued commercial operations despite the absence or expiry of mandatory licences. It stated that the establishment’s trade licence expired on March 31, 2024, and was not renewed, yet operations allegedly continued thereafter.
According to ED, the establishment generated revenue of approximately Rs 29.78 crore between the financial years 2023-24 and 2025-26 (till December 6, 2025), which it has identified as proceeds of crime under PMLA.
