Overview
- Goa Police arrested former Arpora panchayat secretary Raghuvir Bagkar after a court rejected his anticipatory bail plea in the Birch fire case.
- Findings cited by investigators and a magisterial probe allege he allowed operations on an expired trade licence, approved a fictitious address and overlooked illegal construction.
- Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the magisterial inquiry is complete and will be released after a chargesheet, with violations to be examined back to 1999 including permissions on saltpan and CRZ land.
- State inspections of coastal venues checked 86 establishments and sealed 22 for lacking a fire NOC and Pollution Control Board consent, with officials reporting widespread irregularities.
- Earlier arrests included club owners Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra after deportation from Thailand, a Red Corner notice has been issued for Surinder Khosla, and the Opposition is demanding a CBI probe and tabling of the report.