Malviya Nagar fire: Delhi Police hunt hotel owner Lokesh Bajaj after 21 killed
Synopsis
A fire at Malviya Nagar's Lemon Green Restaurant has killed 21 people — 17 of them foreign nationals from Liberia, Nigeria, Mozambique and Bangladesh — exposing serious questions over fire-safety compliance at a property reportedly run by three partners with multiple hotels across Delhi. Police are now hunting owner Lokesh Bajaj as a culpable homicide case is registered under the BNS.
Key Takeaways
21 people died in the Lemon Green Restaurant fire in Malviya Nagar , Delhi; 17 were foreign nationals.
Owner identified by sources as Lokesh Bajaj ; Delhi Police conducting coordinated raids across the city.
Case registered under culpable homicide and other sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) .
Most deceased reportedly from Liberia, Nigeria, Mozambique and Bangladesh .
47 rescued , with 26 under treatment; AIIMS Delhi received 13 patients, including 10 Delhi Police rescuers.
Three partners reportedly run the hotel and own multiple other properties in Delhi.
Delhi Police on Wednesday launched a multi-team manhunt for the owner of Lemon Green Restaurant in Malviya Nagar, hours after a devastating fire at the multi-storied property left 21 people dead, including 17 foreign nationals. The owner has been identified by sources as Lokesh Bajaj, with coordinated raids underway across the national capital.
Police case and ownership trail
A case has been registered under the culpable homicide section and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), officials said. According to sources, the hotel is run by three partners who also own several other hotels and guest houses across Delhi. Investigators are examining the property's ownership structure, operating licences, and fire-safety compliance.
Casualties and survivors
Of the 21 deceased, most are reportedly nationals of Liberia, Nigeria, Mozambique and Bangladesh, officials said. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (South Delhi) Jitender Kumar confirmed the toll on Wednesday morning, adding that 47 people were rescued in all, with 26 currently undergoing treatment.
“Our search and rescue operation was completed at 12:12 p.m. A total of 47 people were rescued, of which 21 have died, and 26 are undergoing treatment,” Kumar said.
Hospital response
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi said it received 13 patients, three of whom suffered injuries after reportedly jumping from a height to escape the blaze. The AIIMS Trauma Centre noted that 10 of the patients are rescuers — all Delhi Police personnel, comprising five Head Constables and five Constables, who were the first to enter the burning building. Three bodies have been shifted to the hospital's Burns and Plastic Surgery Department.
What investigators are probing
Senior officials from Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Services and rescue agencies remain stationed at the site. Probe teams are examining whether the establishment held valid fire-safety clearances, whether emergency exits were functional, and whether structural violations contributed to the high casualty count. The presence of multiple foreign guests has added a diplomatic dimension, with embassies expected to be briefed.
What happens next
Police teams will continue raids until Bajaj and the other partners are located. Forensic teams are expected to file a preliminary report on the cause of the fire in the coming days, even as questions mount over how a property reportedly operating as both a restaurant and lodging facility passed safety checks.
Point of View
The incident will also test how seriously Delhi's civic agencies treat fire-safety compliance at mixed-use restaurant-and-lodging properties, a grey zone that has repeatedly produced mass-casualty events from Karol Bagh to Mundka.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Malviya Nagar fire?
A fire broke out at the multi-storied Lemon Green Restaurant in Delhi's Malviya Nagar, killing 21 people and injuring several others. Of the 47 people rescued, 26 are currently undergoing treatment at various hospitals.
Who is the owner of Lemon Green Restaurant?
According to sources, the owner has been identified as Lokesh Bajaj. Delhi Police have formed multiple teams and are conducting raids across the national capital to trace and arrest him, along with two other partners who reportedly co-own the property.
How many foreign nationals died in the Malviya Nagar fire?
Of the 21 people killed, 17 were foreign nationals, police confirmed. Most of the deceased are reported to be from Liberia, Nigeria, Mozambique and Bangladesh.
What charges have been filed against the hotel owner?
Delhi Police have registered a case under the culpable homicide section and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Investigators are also examining the property's ownership structure, operations, and fire-safety standards.
How many Delhi Police personnel were injured in the rescue?
AIIMS Delhi confirmed that 10 of its admitted patients are Delhi Police personnel — five Head Constables and five Constables — who were the first to enter the burning building during rescue operations.
