Goa Nightspot Money Laundering Probe: ED Freezes Rs 11 Cr

Panaji: The Enforcement Directorate’s Panaji zonal unit has temporarily attached real estate assets valued at Rs 11.01 crore belonging to an Arpora hospitality firm under the anti-money laundering law. The move forms part of a wider investigation into the Birch club, where a catastrophic blaze on 6 December 2025 killed 25 people. Police had earlier registered cases citing forged statutory documents that allegedly helped the venue operate without valid fire safety and health permissions. According to ED findings, partners of Being GS Hospitality Goa Arpora LLP knowingly ran the business after its trade licence lapsed in March 2024. The firm reportedly earned close to Rs 29.78 crore from FY 2023-24 until the date of the fire, money now classified as proceeds of crime. Previous enforcement steps included searches conducted on 23 January 2026 that yielded incriminating records and led to the freezing of bank balances worth Rs 59 lakh. A prior provisional attachment order of Rs 17.45 crore had already been issued. Adding the newest attachment brings the cumulative value of restrained assets to nearly Rs 29.05 crore. Officials stress that the absence of required regulatory approvals and the use of fabricated NOCs constitute scheduled offences under PMLA, justifying continued attachment proceedings.