Panaji: Bombay high court on Monday reserved its judgment in the anticipatory bail application of disqualified Arpora-Nagoa sarpanch, Roshan Redkar, in connection with the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub fire that killed 25 last month.After hearing arguments for one week, HC concluded hearing arguments in the matter on Monday. Until last week, it was hearing anticipatory bail applications of Redkar as well as that of the dismissed panchayat secretary, Raghuvir Bagkar, together, but Bagkar was arrested on Friday.The prosecution told the court that Redkar’s custody was required for further investigation. Assistant public prosecutor, S Karpe, said the sarpanch and secretary were both responsible for accepting the application for a trade licence for running Birch by Romeo Lane without any supporting documents.He stated that no other supporting documents were submitted besides the leave and licence agreement, and that the application was then hurriedly placed before the panchayat meeting without it being on the agenda, and the licence was issued.Karpe further stated that the house number and the words ‘night club’ were inserted into the application when it was in the custody of the panchayat, which the sarpanch had access to. He added that the house number of the adjoining property was used to infer that the club was a legal structure. This was intentionally done to enable the party to get more licences and legalise the structure to get all other permissions, he stated.Redkar, on the other hand, submitted he was not responsible for post-trade licence lapses and said the secretary kept him and the panchayat in the dark about the lapses. He added that the panchayat did not initiate proceedings against the party despite expiry of the trade licence agreement, as he was under the impression that the demolition order was issued and structures would be demolished.
