Panaji: Former Goa Congress President Girish Chodankar said that the Governor of Goa, Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju, and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stand exposed as active enablers in shielding the owners of Birch by Romeo Lane from criminal liability for deadly violations. He stated that the individuals responsible for the loss of 25 lives in the Birch–Romeo Lane fire are being protected by the state’s highest authorities.
Chodankar pointed out that the Jan Vishwas Ordinance, gazetted on December 9, 2025, decriminalises offences including fire safety breaches, illegal operation of commercial clubs and structural safety violations, which he said were the exact violations committed at Birch. He further stated that the ordinance was signed by the Governor on December 2, 2025, four days prior to the tragedy.
He alleged that this was not a coincidence but a safeguard, claiming that it targets the very offences that led to the deaths, including fire safety neglect and illegal operations. He said that instead of seeking justice, the government has chosen to dismantle the courts’ powers and remove jail time for the elite.
Chodankar said that the state is witnessing the erosion of the rule of law, replaced by a system that rewrites history to protect the powerful. He alleged that laws are not being applied equally and are being manipulated to provide retroactive immunity to influential individuals.
He demanded accountability and justice for the victims of the Birch–Romeo Lane fire.
