The Delhi Police’s inquiry into the tragic fire incident at a Malviya Nagar bed and breakfast on June 3, which resulted in the deaths of 23 individuals, including several foreign nationals, has revealed that a secondary exit at the back of the establishment was obstructed during renovations. This obstruction was allegedly created to facilitate the addition of more rooms and to convert the property into a fully operational hotel.
On Tuesday, authorities submitted a comprehensive chargesheet spanning approximately 1,500 pages against three individuals: Lavkesh Bajaj, the property owner; Jai Mishra, the manager and accountant; and Kesar Negi, the cook. While Negi has been released on bail, Bajaj and Mishra are currently in judicial custody, with Bajaj receiving treatment at RML Hospital due to severe abdominal pain.
The police investigation indicated that Bajaj aimed to run a hotel without securing the necessary permits or a fire safety certificate. Instead, he allegedly obtained a license under the Tourism department’s bed and breakfast scheme by falsely representing the property as a residence belonging to Mishra. According to police claims, Mishra submitted a fraudulent affidavit stating he resided at the property, which contradicts the B&B regulations mandating that the owner or operator must live on-site.
The inquiry also revealed that when Bajaj purchased the building, it had two floors. However, additional floors were later added, during which the alternative exit was reportedly blocked off, as stated by the police.
Initially, the B&B scheme allowed for only six rooms at the property, but investigations uncovered that 26 rooms were allegedly in operation at the site.
The fire, which erupted on June 3, quickly engulfed the five-story building. The investigation indicated that the presence of flammable materials and the lack of a secondary escape route significantly contributed to the fire’s rapid escalation. Once the building filled with smoke, the occupants faced limited escape options, according to police reports.
The chargesheet identifies over 130 witnesses, including members of the public, and includes judicial and medical documents collected during the investigation.
However, the final report from the Forensic Science Laboratory is still pending, and police may submit a supplementary chargesheet once it is received.
The three accused face charges under various sections of the law, including 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 326(g) (mischief by injury, inundation, fire, or explosive substance), and other relevant sections concerning the endangerment of human life and negligent conduct related to fire safety.
According to police findings, the fire originated in the kitchen when Negi allegedly left an oil fryer on while preparing tea for himself. The oil reportedly reached its ignition point, igniting the ceiling and surrounding combustible materials.
Authorities claim that Negi initially attempted to extinguish the flames but abandoned the effort and fled without notifying the guests, neighbors, or emergency services.
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