Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 6: The investigation into the devastating fire at a hotel in Delhi's Malviya Nagar that claimed 21 lives has intensified with the arrest of the hotel's cook, who police believe played a role in triggering the blaze.
Delhi Police on Saturday arrested 65-year-old Keshav Negi, a resident of Dilshad Garden and a cook employed at the hotel. Preliminary investigations suggest negligence on his part may have contributed to the fire that engulfed the five-storey building.
The blaze broke out at the Flourish Stay Hotel in the Hauz Rani area of Malviya Nagar on June 3 and rapidly spread through the premises, trapping several occupants inside. The tragedy left 21 people dead and 28 others injured, making it one of the deadliest fire incidents in the national capital in recent years.
Investigators have uncovered multiple safety violations at the hotel. According to officials, the establishment was operating without a mandatory Fire No Objection Certificate (NOC). The building allegedly had only a single entry-exit point, permanently sealed windows and a sensor-operated main entrance, factors that severely hindered evacuation efforts during the emergency.
Among those killed were 10 Indian nationals, nine African nationals and two citizens of Turkmenistan.
Earlier, police arrested hotel owner Lovkesh Bajaj in connection with the incident. He was detained following a search operation after authorities issued a Look-Out Circular against him and his wife.
Bajaj has been booked under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, mischief by fire, causing property damage, endangering life and negligent conduct involving fire.
A court in Saket has remanded him to four days of police custody for further questioning.
The hotel owner is also facing scrutiny in a separate case related to the alleged facilitation of illegal immigration. During interrogation, Bajaj reportedly admitted that he allowed two Bangladeshi nationals, identified as Sweety Sarkar and her daughter Pushpo Sarkar, to use his Chattarpur residential address to obtain Indian identity documents, including Aadhaar cards and passports, in exchange for money.
Police said the two women had been residing in Delhi using fraudulently obtained documents. A chargesheet has already been filed against Bajaj, Sweety Sarkar and Pushpo Sarkar in the case.
Following the tragedy, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta convened a high-level meeting to review fire safety compliance and address the issue of unauthorised constructions across the city.
The Delhi government has stated that strict action will be taken against all those found responsible for the incident, including building owners, officials and others whose negligence may have contributed to the loss of lives.