Custodial interrogation needed of Arpora ex-sarpanch, secy: Mapusa Court

Panaji: Mapusa court rejected anticipatory bail to former Arpora Nagoa panchayat secretary Raghuvir Bagkar and former sarpanch Roshan Redkar and observed “glaring omissions and gross illegalities” in the issuance of a trade licence to Birch by Romeo Lane.The trade licence was issued “hastily” and “without following the prescribed procedure”, the court stated, adding that their custodial interrogation was necessary to find out their motive in issuing the trade licence without following procedure prescribed by the directorate of panchayats. “The trade licence was issued without any NOC (provisional) and without NOCs from other departments,” the court stated, adding that this enabled the club’s management to carry on illegal operations in gross violation of the fire safety norms.The trade licence was issued in the absence of a NOC from the directorate of fire and emergency services.Investigations show alterations made in different ink in the trade licence application, and the possibility of them misusing their official positions and facilitating the issuance of the trade licence without following the prescribed procedure, the court observed.The court also observed that while the application for a trade licence was made on Dec 11, 2023, it was taken up for discussion in the panchayat meeting on Dec 14, 2023, without the subject being on the agenda, and the licence was then issued on Dec 16, 2023.The court added that merely because a demolition order was issued, the panchayat secretary and sarpanch would not be absolved from criminal liability, if any, arising in connection with the issuance of the trade licence.“Although a demolition order was issued relating to the structure in question, the same was done only upon receipt of a complaint. There is prima facie material to indicate that the trade licence expired and that the club was allowed to operate even upon issuance of the demolition order and expiry of the trade licence,” the court stated.