The Anjuna police in Goa have strongly opposed the anticipatory bail application of Raghuvir Bhagkar, the secretary of the Arpora-Nagoa panchayat. The police assert that Bhagkar played a 'prime role' in making an 'illegal structure operational,' which directly resulted in mass casualties. The case revolves around the tragic fire incident at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub.
Illegal Licensing and Procedural Violations
According to the police investigation, Bhagkar, in collaboration with the village sarpanch, illegally issued establishment and trade licences for the nightclub. As a government official, Bhagkar held the final authority for supervising such licence procedures within the panchayat's jurisdiction. However, he is accused of misusing his position to facilitate the licence issuance without following mandatory statutory procedures.
The police findings indicate that the roles of both the secretary and the sarpanch are 'grave, active, and cannot be diluted at this stage.' The investigation uncovered that undue favour was granted to the entity, Being GS Hospitality LLP, in the licensing process.
A statement from the Mapusa block development officer (BDO) revealed a significant violation. While trade licence applications must be mentioned in meeting agendas seven days in advance, the application from Being GS Hospitality LLP was received on December 11, 2023, and immediately placed in a meeting on December 14, 2023, without proper agenda inclusion. The trade licence was issued just two days later, on December 16, 2023. The BDO noted that a provisional licence should have been issued first, pending necessary No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from other authorities.
Delayed Action and 'Eyewash' Demolition Order
The police timeline shows a pattern of delayed action after the illegal construction was flagged. Following a complaint on December 18, 2023, the sarpanch issued a notice to Surinder Kumar Khosla on December 29. A site inspection, initially scheduled for January 4, 2024, was later postponed to January 17.
After the inspection, the secretary issued a show-cause notice on February 15, 2024, and subsequently ordered the demolition of the illegal structure on April 20, 2024, giving a 15-day deadline. Khosla then filed an appeal with the director of panchayats in Panaji on May 16, 2024. The additional director of panchayat for North Goa granted a stay on the demolition order on June 11, 2024. Notably, the secretary was absent from this hearing.
The police highlighted that Bhagkar failed to attend multiple hearings before the additional director from June 3, 2024, to December 4, 2024. The panchayat was represented by an advocate for the first time only on December 4, 2024.
Dismissing the secretary's claim about issuing the demolition order, the police termed it an 'eyewash to save himself.' They argued that if he was serious, he would have taken immediate steps to halt the club's operations and monitored the licence process stringently from the start, given the structure's illegal status.
Police Seek Custodial Interrogation
The investigation revealed that the secretary should have personally inspected the structure. The owners had not obtained mandatory permissions and NOCs from other departments to operate a bar and restaurant. The police stated that Bhagkar was aware the illegal club, located in the centre of a salt pan surrounded by water, could lead to a serious tragedy. Despite this knowledge, he allegedly conspired with the sarpanch to issue the licences, enabling the illegal operation that resulted in the fatal fire.
Emphasising the need for a deeper probe, the police have insisted on custodial examination of the suspects to 'unearth the entire conspiracy.' They also aim to investigate potential illegal licensing of other establishments within the Arpora-Nagoa panchayat jurisdiction to prevent similar future tragedies.
