MAPUSA
Anjuna Police on Friday evening arrested former Arpora-Nagoa panchayat secretary Raghuvir Bagkar in connection with the devastating fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, which claimed 25 lives last month.
Bagkar had been absconding after the Mapusa Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court earlier rejected his anticipatory bail plea. He subsequently approached the Bombay High Court at Goa, where his bail application is pending.
Police sources said Bagkar was arrested at around 7 pm from Chicalim village in Bardez following sustained surveillance.
“We were closely tracking his movements ever since anticipatory bail was denied. On receiving specific information that he was in Chicalim, a team immediately moved in and detained him,” a senior police officer said.
The officer added that Bagkar would be medically examined and produced before the court on Saturday, where police are expected to seek his custodial remand for further investigation.
Bagkar’s arrest comes amid mounting scrutiny over the role of local bodies in granting permissions to the nightclub, which was later found to be operating without mandatory clearances, including a fire NOC and a construction licence.
Police also confirmed that former Arpora sarpanch Roshan Redkar, who is also named in the case, remains absconding, though efforts are underway to trace him.
Redkar, too, has approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bail, where hearings in the matter are currently underway.
Following the tragedy, the state government had first suspended Bagkar from service and later dismissed him, citing serious lapses.
Redkar has been disqualified as sarpanch and panchayat member and has been barred from contesting elections for five years.
The Birch fire tragedy has triggered widespread outrage across the State, with the opposition alleging systemic failure and demanding political accountability, a CBI probe and the public release of the magisterial inquiry report, even as the police investigation continues.
