Delhi hotel fire: Uttarakhand Congress demands Keshav Negi's release, questions arrest
Synopsis
A Delhi hotel fire that killed 21 people has sparked a cross-party political storm in Uttarakhand — both the BJP and Congress are demanding the release of Keshav Negi, a 65-year-old cook arrested for allegedly failing to fight the blaze. Critics argue a chef has no legal duty to act as a firefighter, raising questions about whether authorities are scapegoating a low-wage migrant worker.
Key Takeaways
A fire at Flourish Stay B&B in Malviya Nagar, Delhi on 3 June killed 21 people , including 13 foreign nationals .
Keshav Negi , a 65-year-old cook, was arrested on Saturday on allegations of negligence in failing to help extinguish the fire.
Uttarakhand Congress president Ganesh Godiyal demanded Negi's immediate release, arguing a cook bears no legal duty to fight fires.
BJP MP Trivendra Singh Rawat and Garhwal MP Anil Baluni met Delhi Police seeking a fair probe.
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke with Delhi CM Rekha Gupta , who reportedly assured him no innocent person would face injustice.
Godiyal alleged discrimination against 10 lakh-plus Uttarakhand migrants living in Delhi.
Uttarakhand Congress president Ganesh Godiyal on 7 June demanded the immediate release of Keshav Negi, a cook arrested in connection with the deadly Malviya Nagar hotel fire in Delhi, calling the arrest an act of misplaced accountability and urging a fair, impartial probe into the tragedy. His demand follows a similar call from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Trivendra Singh Rawat, making Negi's detention a rare point of cross-party consensus.
The Fire and the Arrests
A devastating blaze tore through the multi-storeyed Flourish Stay B&B hotel in Malviya Nagar on 3 June, killing 21 people, including 13 foreign nationals, and injuring dozens more. Property owner Lavkesh Bajaj was arrested in the immediate aftermath. On Saturday, 65-year-old Keshav Negi was also taken into custody after investigators alleged that his negligence had contributed to the fire's spread.
What Godiyal Said
Godiyal expressed condolences to the bereaved families and wished a swift recovery for the injured, but was pointed in his criticism of the Delhi authorities. 'The Delhi government and the Delhi police have arrested a person named Keshav Negi, who is originally from Uttarakhand, in this case. After arresting him, they accused him of not contributing to putting out the fire. Naturally, everyone knows that when a fire breaks out, everyone runs here and there to save their lives,' he said.
Questioning the legal basis of the charge, Godiyal asked: 'Did Keshav Negi have the responsibility of the fire brigade to extinguish the fire? As far as I know, Keshav Negi was a chef at that restaurant and hotel and worked as a cook. Keshav Negi does not have the responsibility of extinguishing the fire.'
Allegations of Discrimination Against Uttarakhand Migrants
Godiyal broadened his criticism beyond the individual case, invoking the larger community of Uttarakhand migrants in Delhi. 'It is a matter of great shamelessness that the Delhi government, to save its own skin, has caught a person doing a very ordinary job in this case. More than 10 lakh people from Uttarakhand live in Delhi. And the way in which incidents have happened in the past with the people of Uttarakhand in Delhi, and the way in which they are being discriminated against, is not acceptable; it is completely unacceptable,' he said.
He further argued that the focus of the investigation should be on fire safety compliance and the conduct of the hotel management and regulatory inspectors, not on a low-rung employee with no emergency-response mandate.
Political Pressure Mounts Across Party Lines
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has already spoken with Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta over the arrest, and reportedly received her assurance that no innocent person would face injustice. BJP MP Trivendra Singh Rawat and Garhwal MP Anil Baluni also met Delhi Police, seeking a transparent investigation. The convergence of ruling-party and opposition voices in Uttarakhand signals mounting pressure on Delhi authorities to revisit the grounds for Negi's detention.
The investigation into the Malviya Nagar fire is ongoing, and further developments are awaited.
Point of View
And who signed off on its clearances? Until those questions are answered, the focus on Negi risks obscuring the structural failures that made this fire possible.
NationPress
27 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Keshav Negi arrested in the Delhi hotel fire case?
Keshav Negi, a 65-year-old cook employed at the Flourish Stay B&B in Malviya Nagar, was arrested after investigators alleged that his negligence — specifically, his failure to help extinguish the fire — contributed to the tragedy. Critics, including Uttarakhand Congress president Ganesh Godiyal, have challenged this basis, arguing that a cook has no legal duty to act as a firefighter.
How many people died in the Malviya Nagar hotel fire?
The fire at Flourish Stay B&B on 3 June killed 21 people, including 13 foreign nationals, and injured dozens of others. Hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj was the first to be arrested in connection with the incident.
What has the Uttarakhand government done about Keshav Negi's arrest?
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke directly with Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta about Negi's detention and reportedly received her assurance that no innocent person would face injustice. BJP MPs Trivendra Singh Rawat and Anil Baluni also met Delhi Police seeking a transparent investigation.
What is Ganesh Godiyal's argument for Negi's release?
Godiyal argues that Negi, as a chef, had no responsibility to fight the fire — that duty belongs to the fire brigade. He also contended that fleeing a fire to save one's own life is a natural human response and cannot be treated as a criminal act.
Is there a broader discrimination angle to the Keshav Negi case?
Godiyal raised the issue of discrimination against Uttarakhand migrants in Delhi, noting that over 10 lakh people from the state live in the capital. He alleged that targeting a low-wage worker from Uttarakhand, rather than holding management and regulatory authorities accountable, reflects a pattern of bias against the community.
