Delhi hotel owner saw fire and fled spot, admitted to not getting fire NOC: Sources

The investigation into the devastating fire at Delhi's Malviya Nagar that claimed 21 lives has revealed fresh details about the actions and claims of Bajaj, who was arrested by Delhi Police in connection with the tragedy.

In Short

• B&B allegedly operated 25 rooms despite six-room licence approval
• Police searching for accountant Jai Mishra over licencing document links
• Lavkesh Bajaj to be produced before court today, police to seek custody

In a startling admission made during police interrogation, Lavkesh Bajaj – the arrested owner of the Delhi B&B where 21 people lost their lives in a massive fire on Wednesday – said that he fled the scene out of fear after the blaze erupted. He also admitted that he never obtained a Fire Safety NOC (No Objection Certificate) for the building.

The investigation into the devastating fire at Delhi's Malviya Nagar that claimed 21 lives has revealed fresh details about the actions and claims of Bajaj, who was arrested by Delhi Police in connection with the tragedy.

During questioning on Wednesday night, Bajaj told the cops that he was near the Flourish Stay B&B when the fire broke out but did not stop at the scene.

According to police sources, he claimed he merely passed by the building at the time of the incident and fled out of fear after seeing the situation unfold.

He further stated that he did not return home and instead spent hours wandering on the streets before being traced by police.

The deadly blaze engulfed the B&B in South Delhi's Malviya Nagar on Wednesday morning, killing at least 21 people and injuring several others.

More than 40 occupants were rescued from the smoke-filled building. Among those killed were Indian and foreign nationals. Authorities are still working to identify all the victims.

Police have registered a case of culpable homicide and are probing alleged violations of fire safety, building regulations and licencing norms at the property.

LAVKESH BAJAJ'S INTERROGATION

During interrogation, Bajaj revealed that he acquired the building in 2022 from a party identified as Ahluwalia. He told investigators that the structure had previously housed a Khadi shop and was already in a highly dilapidated condition when he took possession of it.

He initially rented out rooms in the building before later converting it into a hotel-cum-guest house.

Bajaj claimed that he had obtained permission to operate a Bed and Breakfast (B&B) establishment, tourist accommodation and a health restaurant from the premises. However, police are currently verifying the authenticity and scope of those permissions.

Investigators said Bajaj admitted that he never obtained a Fire Safety No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the building. This disclosure is significant as officials have already indicated that the structure may not have qualified for a fire NOC under existing safety regulations.

The owner also told police that he was running the hotel without any partners. However, he stated that he had handed over the day-to-day management of the establishment to Jai Mishra, who also served as his accountant.

According to police, several crucial documents linked to the hotel's operations are registered in Mishra's name. Bajaj reportedly informed police that licences and other paperwork were issued in Mishra's name, prompting authorities to closely examine his role in the business.

Police are currently searching for Mishra and verifying the extent of his involvement.

LICENCING VIOLATIONS

The investigation has also uncovered alleged licencing violations. Sources said the establishment was granted permission to operate only six rooms under the Delhi government's Bed and Breakfast scheme.

However, the property was allegedly functioning as a 25-room hotel, with some rooms operating from the basement.

Officials are also examining whether additional floors were constructed without the required approvals. The building reportedly had only one entry and exit point, while sealed windows and a sensor-operated main door may have hampered evacuation efforts when the fire spread rapidly through the structure.

Preliminary findings suggest the blaze may have originated in a ground-floor restaurant after electrical equipment was switched on, although the exact cause remains under investigation.

B&B OWNER TO BE TAKEN TO COURT

Lavkesh Bajaj is expected to be produced before a court at around 2 pm today. Delhi Police are likely to seek his custody for three to four days to further investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, trace missing records and examine the operations of all three hotels allegedly owned by him.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government has constituted a joint committee comprising officials from the district administration, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Delhi Police and the Power Department to inspect similar establishments across the capital.

The move comes amid growing scrutiny of safety compliance among hotels, guest houses and B&B properties following one of Delhi's deadliest fire incidents in recent years.

- Ends