Malviya Nagar hotel fire: Building owner Lavkesh Bajaj arrested as glaring lapses revealed

Delhi Police has arrested Lavkesh Bajaj, owner of the hotel building in Malviya Nagar where a devastating fire killed 21 people on Wednesday (June 3).

Bajaj was arrested hours after the blaze ripped through the Flourish Stay B&B in the congested Hauz Rani area in south Delhi. Police had earlier issued a look out circular (LOC) against Bajaj and his wife, and launched an operation to trace them.

The deceased include 11 foreign nationals. At least 19 of the 35 injured remained in critical condition across hospitals in Delhi, according to official data.

Officials said that 20 teams were investigating the matter from every single angle. The cause of the fire is also under investigation, they said.

B&B lacked fire NOC

The blaze tore through the hotel allegedly operating without a fire NOC in a congested bylane in the area, killing at least 21 people, including 10 Indians, nine African nationals, and two from Turkmenistan.

The fire spread rapidly through the five-storey building, which allegedly lacked the mandatory fire no-objection certificate (NOC). The structure had only one entry-exit point, permanently sealed windows and a sensor-operated main door, factors that investigators believe hampered the evacuation efforts.

At least 58 people were rescued and taken to hospitals, where 21 were declared dead.

Four times permitted rooms

The investigators have alleged that the hotel was operating far beyond its permitted capacity and in violation of safety norms.

The establishment reportedly had permission for only six rooms under the Delhi government's Bed & Breakfast policy but was allegedly running around 25 rooms, including some in the basement.

Additional floors were allegedly constructed over the years without obtaining required approvals from the authorities.

Police have registered an FIR under the charges of culpable homicide and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. They are examining the role of other persons associated with the establishment.

Short circuit suspected

The blaze started around 8.30 am on the ground floor, which housed a restaurant and two rooms, due to a suspected short circuit. It quickly spread through the five-storey narrow building that had a single entry-exit point, permanently sealed windows and a sensor-operated main door, factors that combined to turn the building into a virtual death trap.

According to police sources, the fire may have started shortly after a chef arrived at the ground-floor restaurant and switched on electrical equipment before beginning work.

A blast-like sound was reportedly heard moments later, following which flames rapidly spread.

A disaster was waiting to happen

The building, in a congested locality in Malviya Nagar, housed a restaurant on the ground floor while the basement and upper floors were being used as hotel accommodation.

It was reportedly more than 15 metres high, making a Fire Safety Clearance or No Objection Certificate (NOC) mandatory. However, authorities said they neither received the required documents nor any response from the owner, and no fire clearance was ever issued.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the building had only ground floor plus one storey around six to seven years ago, when fire clearance was not required. Additional floors were allegedly added later without informing authorities.

Officials said the complete building plan was never submitted despite directions from authorities.

“As far as a fire NOC is concerned, we had not received any reference from either the building authorities or the licensing agency,” Deputy Chief Fire Officer AK Malik told news agency PTI.

A death trap

Officials said the owner had applied for a trade licence, but the complete building plan was not submitted. The owner had been asked to provide the plans to the Building Department, which was required to share them with the Fire Department, but the process was never completed.

The design of the building made evacuation extremely difficult, Malik said.

“Buildings of this nature act like a shaft, where heat and smoke generated by a fire can engulf the entire structure within seconds, making evacuation even more challenging,” he said.

The building had one staircase on the ground and upper floors, while two were in the basement. Rescue teams used cutters to open the basement shutter and hammers to break through sealed windows to reach those trapped inside.

Lens on Bajaj

The police have registered an FIR under charges of culpable homicide and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in connection with the incident.

The hotel was being run by three partners who are believed to own several other hotels and guesthouses across Delhi, police sources said.

According to investigators, Lavkesh Bajaj was the building owner and the tourism department licence was issued in the name of Jai Mishra.

Bajaj, said to be in his 50s, is a resident of south Delhi's Saket area, though police have not revealed his exact address.

Police sources said Bajaj was also linked to a firm believed to be engaged in construction-related activities, and investigators are examining his business interests as part of the probe.

CM seeks report

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday sought a detailed report from South Delhi district magistrate on the Malviya Nagar hotel fire tragedy that claimed 21 lives on Wednesday, and warned of stern action if any lapses were found.

She said those responsible for the tragedy will be held accountable.

“Lapses that culminated in the tragic fire at a guest house in Malviya Nagar will be examined with utmost seriousness, and accountability will be fixed wherever it lies,” Gupta said in an X post.

A magisterial inquiry has been ordered and an FIR has been registered against the owner of the property, she said.

“A city-wide crackdown will be launched against illegal properties, unauthorised guest houses and establishments operating in violation of fire safety norms and building by-laws. Such premises will be sealed and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” Gupta added.

LG orders month-long drive

Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu ordered a month-long drive to check fire safety compliance at all hotels, nursing homes, coaching institutes, restaurants and other vulnerable commercial establishments.

Sandhu chaired a meeting with the departments concerned and directed the officials to commence the drive from June 4 to check strict compliance with fire safety norms.

“All hotels, lodges, inns, nursing homes, coaching institutes, restaurants and other vulnerable commercial establishments will be covered in the drive. All rooms in hotels, lodges and inns exceeding the permitted limit to be closed,” an official said.

Accessibility survey to be conducted

At the meeting, the land owning agencies, Delhi Fire Service and Delhi Police were directed to conduct an accessibility survey to identify the bottlenecks and chokepoints obstructing fire tenders from reaching any area in a colony, etc.

“The identified chokepoints should be cleared wherever feasible and alternate fire-fighting arrangements be made at other places,” the official said.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Police, and the tourism department have been directed to jointly call meetings of all hotel associations area wise, and communicate enforcement of fire norms and conditions of building licences.

Defaulter premises to be sealed

According to officials, Sandhu also gave directions for sealing and legal action against the defaulter premises. “The defaulter commercial buildings and RWAs will also be identified through public feedback mechanisms by establishing a dedicated helpline and email within a week,” the official said.

The government will also disseminate the existing norms to all commercial buildings and resident welfare associations (RWAs) in digital form.

“Premise owners to start checking their preparedness according to these and improve compliance. All commercial buildings and RWAs to check their fire safety equipment, tanks, water supply systems and ensure that they have complied with the norms,” the official said.

Sandhu also ordered a magisterial probe into the Malviya Nagar incident, along with identification of bodies and assistance in cremation and burial activities.

Government to run awareness campaign

Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood told reporters after attending the meeting that all buildings in the city without the required fire safety and other permissions will be sealed.

The government will also run an awareness campaign for fire safety at residential buildings that do not require the no objection certificate (NOC) from Delhi Fire Services, the minister informed.

An immediate city-wide enforcement drive following the Malviya Nagar fire tragedy has also been ordered by the Delhi government.

Massive crackdown on illegal hotels will be ensured, said a statement from Sood's office.

Inspection of all B&Bs

Sood has directed South Delhi District Magistrate, Deputy Commissioners (MCD), Delhi Fire Services and the Power department to immediately undertake a comprehensive physical inspection of all registered and suspected B&B establishments in the area.

The minister instructed that any establishment found violating fire safety norms, building regulations or licensing conditions must face immediate action, including sealing of premises, disconnection of utility services and initiation of criminal proceedings against responsible persons, added the statement.

Sood emphasised that residential hospitality permissions cannot be allowed to become a cover for unsafe and unauthorised business activities operating in densely populated residential localities.

Ex-gratia announced

The prime minister has announced ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured.

The worst fire in Delhi remains the 1997 Uphaar Cinema fire in which 59 people died.

(With agency inputs)