Team Goemkarponn
MAPUSA: The Additional Sessions Court of North Goa on Tuesday took up a regular bail application filed by Rajib Kumar Modak, also known as Rajiv Nimai Chandra Modak, a Corporate/Chief General Manager linked to the Romeo Lane brand, who is currently facing prosecution in Crime No. 154/2025 registered by the Anjuna Police.
Modak, who is lodged at the Modern Central Jail in Colvale, has approached the court under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, seeking release in a case invoking serious provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The charges include culpable homicide not amounting to murder, offences relating to endangering personal safety, and negligent handling of machinery.
Placing his case before the court, the defence maintained that Modak is a Delhi resident and was officially posted with the company’s Indore unit in Madhya Pradesh. It was argued that he did not hold any decision-making or supervisory role at the Goa outlet and had come to the state only for a short visit about two weeks prior to the incident.
The bail plea described the internal structure of the company to stress that responsibilities were clearly divided. According to the defence, routine operations and event management at the Goa establishment were overseen by the Operation Head and the Associate Vice President (Service), while Modak, despite his corporate designation, functioned under their supervision.
The application further stated that kitchen-related matters were independently handled by senior culinary officials at the corporate level, whereas all human resource activities, including staff appointments and payroll, were managed from the company’s headquarters in Delhi.
It was also brought to the court’s notice that the General Manager of the Goa outlet was on sanctioned matrimonial leave from November 25 to December 10, 2025, and therefore was not actively supervising the premises during the period in question.
The defence placed reliance on biometric attendance data and duty registers, which are presently with the investigating agency, claiming these records would establish who was present on duty and responsible for specific functions at the relevant time.
The plea asserted that day-to-day functioning of the establishment was under the exclusive control of the Operational Manager, who reported to the service wing of the company. It was contended that Modak and the General Manager were implicated only after the Operational Manager went missing, and that their arrest was unjustified.
Questioning the manner of arrest, the defence alleged it was carried out in a routine and arbitrary fashion, in violation of constitutional safeguards, without properly assessing the individual roles of the accused.
The application also noted that on the night of December 6, 2025, the General Manager was not on duty and had reached the premises only after receiving an urgent message, following which he was detained by the police.
After hearing the submissions, the Additional Sessions Judge issued notice to the prosecution and directed the Investigating Officer to submit a detailed reply. The matter has been listed for further hearing on January 5, 2026.
