Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar, original owner of land in Arpora village, Goa, said he reported illegal activities at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub before a fire killed 25 people on December 7, 2025. He bought two plots in 1994 and signed a sale agreement with Surinder Kumar Khosla in 2004. But the deal fell through because Khosla did not pay. Khosla then built the nightclub and later transferred it to Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra. Amonkar fought a legal battle for 20 years to stop illegal construction. In December 2023, he and Sunil Divkar filed a complaint with the local Arpora-Nagoa panchayat. The panchayat issued a demolition notice to Khosla in 2024 but the Directorate of Panchayat granted a stay. Amonkar showed proof that Khosla failed to prove legality of structures on the land. Amonkar called Khosla the "main accused" and warned he might flee the country. The local sarpanch admitted attempts to demolish failed due to the stay order. The Chief Minister’s Office blamed the panchayat for allowing illegal works like electricity and trade licences, even after the nightclub licence expired in March 2024. The local body had power to seal the nightclub under law but did not act timely.