NT Reporter Panaji
The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday rejected anticipatory bail for disqualified Arpora–Nagoa panchayat sarpanch Roshan Redkar in connection with the Birch by Romeo Lane fire case.
The court noted that the panchayat had acted in undue haste in granting a trade licence to Birch by Romeo Lane, violating Directorate of Panchayats guidelines and bypassing mandatory no-objection certificates (NOCs). It also observed that the licence application had been altered while under panchayat custody and the licence document manipulated. These actions, combined with Redkar’s connections with the club owners and operators, provided sufficient material suggesting his prima facie involvement.
The court said Redkar’s role in creating false and fabricated documents must be further investigated to determine the full extent of the alleged conspiracy. The Additional Public Prosecutor had argued that more investigation was needed to identify other public officials, intermediaries and facilitators, and to link administrative records and documents to establish who was responsible for manipulating public records to allow the club to operate without proper approvals.
The court also highlighted the possibility of Redkar intimidating witnesses or tampering with evidence because of his influence over panchayat staff. It noted that when he was called for questioning at Anjuna police station on December 7, 2025, he allegedly gathered about 100 people at the station, obstructing the investigation.
“Thus, in my considered view, in the totality of the circumstances, custodial interrogation is necessary,” the court said.
Earlier, the Mapusa court had rejected Redkar’s anticipatory bail applications and suspended former panchayat secretary Bagkar in connection with the December 6 nightclub fire. Redkar had told the court that the panchayat had issued a demolition notice for the club’s building, which was later stayed by the Director of Panchayats.
