PANAJI
A disqualification petition has been filed against Arpora“Nagoa Sarpanch Roshan Redkar, accusing him of abuse of power, corruption and violations of law. The petition also alleges that he illegally issued a licence to the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, which was destroyed in a deadly fire that killed 25 people on December 6.
The petition was filed by Siraj Pednekar and submitted to the Directorate of Panchayats on Tuesday. It seeks Redkar’s removal from office and an interim order to stop him from performing his duties until the case is decided.
Speaking to reporters, the petitioner’s lawyer said the sarpanch misused his authority and granted a licence to Birch by Romeo Lane despite the establishment being located in an environmentally sensitive area where such commercial activity is not allowed. The lawyer claimed this illegal act contributed to the tragic incident.
The petition also alleges that Redkar issued 13 repair licences for structures that do not exist, all located in Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) protected areas. It further claims that he is facing a demolition order linked to an illegal construction.
In addition, the sarpanch has been accused of possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
Taking note of the petition, the Directorate of Panchayats has issued a notice to Redkar and fixed the hearing for December 26 at 4 pm.
