Anjuna police made a significant arrest on Friday. They took former Arpora-Nagoa panchayat secretary Raghuvir Bagkar into custody. This arrest connects directly to the devastating fire at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora. That tragic incident claimed the lives of twenty-five people.
Bagkar's Legal Journey and Disappearance
Raghuvir Bagkar had been missing for some time. His disappearance followed a court decision. The sessions court in Mapusa rejected his anticipatory bail application on December 30, 2025. The court also rejected the bail plea of sarpanch Roshan Redkar on the same day.
After this rejection, Bagkar approached the High Court. He filed a petition seeking anticipatory bail there. That particular petition remains pending before the court as of now.
Police Action After Bail Rejection
Anjuna police immediately began their efforts. Once the local court denied his bail, officers started trying to trace Raghuvir Bagkar. Their search culminated in the arrest made on Friday. Police Inspector Suraj Gawas confirmed the details of the arrest.
Government Suspensions and Terminations
The state government took administrative action earlier. On December 7, officials suspended three people following the blaze. The suspended individuals included Siddhi Tushar Harlankar, who was then the director and additional director of panchayats. Shamila Monteiro, the then member secretary of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), also faced suspension. Raghuvir Bagkar was the third official suspended at that time.
The government later took a stricter step against Bagkar. Authorities terminated his services completely after the initial suspension.
Further Disciplinary Actions by GSPCB
The Goa State Pollution Control Board did not stop there. GSPCB officials later suspended two of their own staff members. The board took action against scientific assistant Chaitanya Salgaonkar. They also suspended junior environmental engineer Vijay Harichandra Kansekar.
The suspension reason was clear. Both employees failed to conduct a proper inspection at the Birch by Romeo Lane establishment before the fire.
Magisterial Inquiry Report and Recommendations
A magisterial inquiry delved deep into the tragedy. The resulting report provided the state government with sixty separate recommendations. These suggestions outline specific actions and necessary steps. The goal is to prevent future fire incidents like the one that destroyed Birch by Romeo Lane.
The inquiry document itself is extensive. The main report runs for one hundred and eight pages. Investigators attached more than five hundred additional pages. These annexures include various statements and supporting documents related to the case.
