Goa Fire Probe: Official Raghuvir Bagkar Blamed For Lapses In Birch Club Tragedy

A magisterial committee investigating the deadly Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub fire in Goa has indicted Panchayat Secretary Raghuvir Bagkar for gross negligence. The report reveals that Bagkar allowed the club to operate despite an expired trade license and illegal construction on salt-pan land. The inquiry, which follows an India Today exposé, highlights how owners Gaurav and Sourav Luthra obtained licenses in just four days, bypassing standard procedures. The fire on December 6, 2025, claimed 25 lives. Bagkar failed to seal the premises even after demolition notices were issued.