After bail rejection, police launch manhunt for Sarpanch, Panchayat Secretary

The Anjuna police have launched a manhunt for disqualified Arpora-Nagoa Sarpanch Roshan Redkar and dismissed Panchayat Secretary Ra ghuvir Bagkar after the North Goa Addi tional Sessions Court rejected their an ticipatory bail pleas in connection with the deadly Birch by Romeo Lane fire. The court’s decision came after police strongly opposed the pleas, arguing that custodial interrogation of both accused was essential for an effective probe and that pre-arrest bail would derail the investigation. Accepting these submis sions, the court on Tuesday ruled that the gravity of the allegations warranted detailed custodial investigation and de clined to extend protection from arrest. Earlier, on December 11, the court had granted Redkar and Bagkar interim relief from arrest and issued notices to the An juna police. That protection now stands withdrawn. The fallout was swift. A day after the bail pleas were dismissed, the State government terminated Bagkar from service, holding him guilty of grave dereliction of duty and misconduct. In a separate administrative action, the Director of Panchayats disqualified Redkar from his posts as Sar panch and Panchayat Member and barred him from con testing panchayat elections for five years. Appearing for Redkar, advocates Siddesh Prabhudes sai and N. Sardessai contended that the Sarpanch had no direct role in the fire and that the licence granted to the establishment was a collective panchayat decision. They claimed Redkar had been falsely implicated and assured the court of his cooperation with the investigation. The court, however, remained unconvinced. Soon after the fire, Anjuna police had summoned Red kar for questioning. Anticipating arrest, a large group of his supporters gathered outside the police station, forcing the police to step back from detaining him at the time. Since filing their anticipatory bail applications, both Redkar and Bagkar have remained at large. With the court now clearing the way for arrest, police say efforts are underway to trace and apprehend the duo as the investigation into one of Goa’s deadliest nightlife trag edies intensifies.