MAPUSA
Former Arpora-Nagoa sarpanch Roshan Redkar was taken into custody by Anjuna Police on Thursday morning shortly after he surrendered before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court at Mapusa in connection with the Birch nightclub fire case.
Following his surrender, Redkar was taken for a medical examination and later a court remanded him to police custody for seven days.
Redkar’s surrender came a day after the High Court of Bombay at Goa rejected his plea for anticipatory bail.
Subsequently, the sarpanch who has been disqualified by the government, approached the JMFC court seeking permission to voluntarily surrender, stating that he was willing to submit to the court’s jurisdiction and cooperate fully with the investigation.
In his submission before the court, Redkar asserted that he was not absconding and had not attempted to evade the legal process.
The court accepted his surrender, after which he was formally taken into custody by Anjuna Police.
The surrender is linked to the ongoing investigation into the fire that broke out at the Birch nightclub in Arpora, an incident that has attracted significant legal and public scrutiny.
Twenty-five people lost their lives in the fire which also caused extensive damage to the establishment besides raising serious questions over alleged lapses in permissions, fire safety compliance and panchayat-level approvals.
Meanwhile, in a related development, the JMFC Mapusa extended the police custody of former Arpora panchayat secretary Raghuvir Bagkar by seven days in the same case.
Bagkar, who has been dismissed from public service, was arrested earlier after the court dismissed his anticipatory bail application.
Police are probing the role of panchayat officials and other authorities in granting permissions and compliance certificates to the nightclub.
The case has assumed importance amid growing concerns over safety violations at nightlife establishments in North Goa.
Further action is expected as the investigation progresses and more accused are questioned in connection with the Birch fire case.
