goa-nightclub-fire-arpora-sarpanch-panchayat-secy-dismissed

Goa’s state government has dismissed the Arpora village sarpanch and the panchayat secretary of the Arpora-Nagoa village panchayat from service on the basis of “persistent negligence” and “breach of public trust”. 

The Directorate of Panchayats, while citing findings of the Magisterial Inquiry Committee Report on the nightclub mishap that killed 25 people on December 6 when a fire ripped through it, noted “grave irregularities” by officials of the village panchayat in granting the requisite approvals and licenses.

The report said that the sarpanch, Roshan Redkar, “presided over meetings where the irregularities of the subject premises were either ignored or tacitly approved”, and that the panchayat secretary of the Arpora-Nagoa village panchayat, Raghuvir Bagkar, gave the house number without ground verification, stating, “incase the House Number allocation is legal, then I don’t go for inspection”. But, the report found that Bagkar contradicted himself when he later said: “I give house numbers by verifying the structures is existing on grounds without checking its documents, like construction license, approved plans etc.”

Noting that the Birch establishment was initially operated in a temporary shed and later converted into a nightclub “without any conversion sanad or approved building plans,” the directorate asked: “What will happen if the protectors themselves become poachers?”

 

Also Read: Goa night club fire: Court grants bail to two managers

Meanwhile, a Goa court on Monday sent Luthra brothers – Gaurav and Saurav Luthra to judicial custody until January 9, 2026.

The state chief minister, Pramod Sawant, saidon Monday that officials responsible for granting permission to the Luthra brothers, Gaurav and Saurav Luthra, to operate the nightclub have been issued a show-cause notice.

“I have given instructions to all Heads of Departments that all the officials connected to giving permission to the nightclub, all of them have been given a show cause notice, and if anyone is found guilty, they will be punished,” he told the press.