Panaji, Goa: The Goa government has terminated the services of a panchayat secretary and disqualified a sarpanch for allegedly permitting an illegally operating nightclub where 25 people lost their lives in a devastating fire last month. The action follows the findings of a magisterial inquiry into the December 6 blaze at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora village.
Panchayat secretary Raghuvir Bagkar has been dismissed from service, while Arpora sarpanch Roshan Redkar has been disqualified from holding office for five years under the Goa Panchayat Raj Act. Both officials are currently absconding, and a local court has rejected their anticipatory bail pleas.
The decisions were formalised through separate orders issued late Wednesday by Director of Panchayats Mahadev Araundekar, after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant chaired a high-level meeting to review the inquiry report. The report held local authorities responsible for allowing the nightclub to function despite glaring violations of safety and construction norms.
Investigators found that the nightclub had inadequate exits, a highly inflammable thatched roof, and large quantities of stored alcohol, all of which contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. The structure was reportedly built in an ecologically sensitive salt pan area, where commercial construction is prohibited, and was operating without mandatory licences, approved building plans, or an occupancy certificate.
The inquiry noted that even a layperson could have identified the illegalities. It also pointed to the Arpora panchayat’s failure to pursue demolition proceedings against the structure, despite having multiple opportunities, including a window of over 50 days before a stay order was granted.
In its order, the department accused Bagkar of malafide intent, gross negligence, and deliberate dereliction of duty, stating that his inaction directly contributed to the tragedy. The order said the fatalities could have been prevented had he responsibly discharged his official obligations. Citing his reported absconding and the gravity of misconduct, the government concluded that a departmental inquiry was not practicable and that his continuation in service was against public interest.
Redkar’s disqualification order stated that he presided over panchayat meetings where the nightclub’s irregularities were ignored or tacitly approved. The inquiry found that what began as a temporary shed was unlawfully converted into a high-end nightclub without statutory approvals. The order described his conduct as a persistent failure of duty and a breach of public trust that culminated in a major catastrophe.
Earlier, on December 16, nightclub owners Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra were arrested at Delhi airport after being deported from Thailand, where they had fled following the fire.
With criminal proceedings ongoing and senior local officials already penalised, the case has intensified scrutiny of regulatory enforcement and accountability in Goa’s coastal tourism belt.
