Panaji: The additional sessions court, Mapusa granted bail to dismissed secretary Raghuvir Bagkar and suspended Arpora-Nagoa sarpanch Roshan Redkar in connection with the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub fire that claimed 25 lives last year.Bagkar was released after over 40 days in custody. He was arrested on Jan 16 after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the lower court and while the high court was hearing his application.
Redkar spent 37 days in jail after surrendering on Jan 22 when both the lower court and the high court rejected his anticipatory bail.The HC had earlier said Redkar’s role in facilitating false and fabricated documents requires further investigation. While denying him bail, the high court had cited undue haste by the panchayat in granting a trade licence without mandatory NOCs, alleged interpolation in the licence application while in panchayat custody, and manipulation of the licence.It also observed a nexus between Redkar and the establishment’s operators, and said it may attach and auction assets to compensate victims.
