Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 5: Lovekesh Bajaj, the key accused arrested in connection with the deadly Malviya Nagar hotel fire in Delhi, was previously arrested in a case involving the alleged procurement of forged Indian identity documents for Bangladeshi nationals residing illegally in the country.
According to police sources, Bajaj was arrested in January 2025 following an investigation by the Paharganj police, which uncovered an alleged network facilitating the use of fake Indian documents, including Aadhaar cards and passports, by foreign nationals.
Investigators alleged that two Bangladeshi women and a minor child were living illegally in Delhi using fraudulently obtained Indian identity documents. During the probe, police found that an Indian passport had been issued to one of the accused using a Chhatarpur address allegedly linked to Bajaj.
Police claimed that verification of the address led investigators to Bajaj, a resident of Saket. During questioning, he allegedly admitted to allowing the individuals to use his residential address for obtaining Indian documents in exchange for money.
Following the investigation, Bajaj and the two women were arrested, and a charge sheet was later filed before a court. Sources said he spent around 15 days in Tihar Jail before securing bail. The case is currently pending before the court.
The revelation comes as Bajaj faces fresh scrutiny in the Malviya Nagar hotel fire tragedy that claimed 21 lives and left several others injured.
Police arrested Bajaj from Saket on June 3 in connection with the fire that swept through a hotel located in a congested lane of Malviya Nagar.
Meanwhile, efforts are continuing to trace two other individuals linked to the hotel — accountant Jai Mishra and manager Rakesh — who remain absconding. Investigators are also gathering information about other staff members as part of the ongoing probe.
Authorities are examining multiple aspects of the case, including possible safety violations and lapses that may have contributed to one of the deadliest hotel fire incidents reported in the capital in recent years.