Panaji: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Sunday said entities operating the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub generated Rs 22 crore in revenue over
the last two financial years, which it suspects to be ‘proceeds of crime’ under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
According to the agency, the nightclub at Arpora earned approximately Rs 22 crore during financial year 2023-24 and financial year 2024-25.
The ED alleged that the nightclub was operated without mandatory statutory licences and on the basis of forged no-objection certificates (NOCs) and approvals purportedly obtained from various departments.
The ED investigation follows an inferno tragedy at the nightclub on December 6, 2025, which claimed 25 lives.
The agency claimed that a significant portion of the funds generated from the alleged illegal operations was diverted to personal bank accounts and accounts of group entities.
ED also said evidence of foreign remittances routed through linked entities has been unearthed, and is currently under examination.
As part of the ongoing probe, the agency conducted search operations at nine locations in Goa, New Delhi and Gurugram.
The searches covered premises linked to nightclub owners Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, Ajay Gupta, former Arpora-Nagao sarpanch Roshan Redkar, former panchayat secretary Raghuvir Bagkar, and others.
During the searches, the agency said it recovered and seized various incriminating documents and devices relevant to the probe.
Additionally, bank accounts of individuals and entities suspected of holding ‘proceeds of crime’ have been frozen under PMLA provisions.
