Negligence on his part: Cook arrested in Delhi hotel fire case that killed 21

Delhi Police have arrested a hotel cook and detained others in the Malviya Nagar fire case. The widening probe is focusing on alleged negligence, safety violations and how 21 people died.

In Short

• The May 3 blaze at Flourish Stays hotel left 21 people dead
• Victims included teenager, foreign nationals from 7 countries
• The FIR says 28 rooms ran despite approval for only six

The investigation into the Malviya Nagar hotel fire that killed 21 people earlier this week widened on Saturday, with Delhi Police arresting a cook and detaining several others linked to the property as questions mount over safety lapses and operational irregularities.

Police said the latest arrest was that of Keshav Negi (55), a cook at the B&B unit of the hotel. Preliminary findings suggest his negligence may have contributed to the circumstances that triggered the blaze.

"One more accused has been arrested, the cook of the hotel. Investigation has revealed negligence on his part as a possible cause of the fire. A few others have also been detained and are being questioned," Delhi Police said.

Officials added that interrogation is ongoing and more arrests cannot be ruled out as officials reconstruct the sequence of events that led to the tragedy at Flourish Stays Bed and Breakfast in Malviya Nagar's Hauz Rani area.

According to police, Negi is a resident of Dishad Garden area.

The arrest came days after a devastating fire tore through the hotel on May 3 morning, killing 21 people, including a 16-year-old girl and foreign nationals from Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Iraq, Congo, Mozambique and Liberia.

Police had earlier arrested hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj, who has been booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Officials are examining allegations of fire safety violations, unauthorised construction and operational lapses that may have worsened the scale of the disaster.

According to the FIR, the hotel was running 28 rooms despite permission for only six. Investigators have also flagged deficiencies in fire safety systems and ventilation. The basement exit was reportedly locked when firefighters arrived, forcing rescue teams to break open the entrance during operations.

Attention has also turned to Jay Mishra, an associate and accountant of the hotel owner, who has been absconding since the incident.

Police sources said his name appears in multiple documents linked to the property. Multiple teams have been deployed to trace him, including a unit sent to Bihar.

A preliminary forensic assessment suggested that most victims died due to suffocation rather than burn injuries. Officials also noted that although fire extinguishers were present inside the building, they were not used during the emergency.

Forensic teams have collected samples including burnt wiring and electronic equipment to determine whether a short circuit, electrical overload or other technical failure may have sparked the fire.

As the probe expands, police say questioning of detained staff and other individuals connected to the hotel is expected to help establish accountability in what is being described as one of the deadliest fire incidents in the capital in recent years.

- Ends