Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: In a major development linked to the tragic fire at the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ bar and nightclub in Arpora, the State government on Wednesday dismissed the suspended Secretary of the Village Panchayat of Arpora-Nagoa, Raghuvir Bagkar, holding him responsible for serious dereliction of duty that allowed the illegal operation of the establishment where 25 people lost their lives on December 6.
In a separate action, the government also disqualified Arpora Sarpanch Roshan Redkar with immediate effect for misuse and abuse of power in connection with the same case. Redkar has been removed from the membership of the Arpora-Nagoa village panchayat and barred from contesting or holding any panchayat post for a period of five years under Section 50(5) of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act.
Both Bagkar and Redkar now face the possibility of arrest, as a local court has rejected their anticipatory bail pleas.
The dismissal order against Bagkar was issued by Director of Panchayats Mahadev Araundekar, who stated that the officer’s conduct was gravely prejudicial to public interest and that his continuation in service was no longer desirable. The action followed the findings of a magisterial inquiry into the fatal fire, which pointed to multiple serious irregularities and deliberate lapses during Bagkar’s tenure between November 17, 2022 and July 3, 2025.
The inquiry concluded that Bagkar’s acts of commission and omission directly enabled the unlawful functioning of the bar and nightclub. It revealed that the village panchayat had granted a trade licence in December 2023 to Being GS Hospitality Goa Arpora LLP to operate a bar, restaurant and nightclub, valid only up to March 31, 2024. Despite the licence not being renewed thereafter, the establishment continued to function without authorisation.
The report noted that no steps were taken by the panchayat to seal the premises or alert other departments to revoke their no-objection certificates and permissions, as required under the Goa Panchayat Raj Act. Bagkar reportedly admitted that he was aware of the non-renewal of the licence but failed to initiate any action or inform the concerned departments.
The inquiry also highlighted serious flaws in the processing of the trade licence, including signs of forged documents, missing mandatory approvals such as sanctioned plans and Form I & XIV, and the allotment of a house number to a structure that did not physically exist at the site. The licence was processed with unusual speed and granted without proper field verification. Bagkar further admitted to allotting house numbers to structures located in CRZ areas despite knowing their illegality.
On the issue of demolition, the inquiry found that although a demolition notice was issued in April 2024, the panchayat failed to act during several available time periods, including a window of more than 50 days before a stay order was granted and another phase in 2025 when no stay was in force. The matter was neither pursued before appellate authorities nor referred to the demolition squad through the Block Development Officer.
The Director of Panchayats concluded that Bagkar’s conduct amounted to gross negligence, questionable integrity and violation of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, along with provisions of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act. Given the seriousness of the misconduct and its direct connection to the loss of 25 lives, the government held that summary dismissal was necessary in the larger public interest.
