Days after the Malviya Nagar hotel fire claimed 21 lives, the Revenue Department on 4 June launched a sweeping survey of hotels and commercial establishments across the Hauz Rani area of South Delhi, with officials warning of action against properties found violating construction and licensing norms. The enforcement drive targets buildings in the SDM Malviya Nagar jurisdiction, with a comprehensive findings report expected by the end of the day.

What the Revenue Department is checking

Inspectors are auditing hotels for compliance with safety, licensing and building regulations, examining floor counts, room numbers and commercial-use permissions. Mohammad Shamim, a representative of the Revenue Department, said, ‘We are issuing notices here. All the hotels in our area that fall under the Revenue Department, such as those in the SDM Malviya Nagar jurisdiction, are being examined. We are checking whether any commercial activity is taking place in these hotels or not. How many rooms are there in a building, how many floors does it have, if the hotels have proper licensing or not etc.'

Officials said buildings exceeding permissible construction limits — including those with more than five floors — are likely to face action under the ongoing crackdown.

Hotel owner arrested

Delhi Police have arrested Lavkesh Bajaj, owner of the hotel building where the fatal blaze erupted on Wednesday. Bajaj was taken into custody hours after a search operation was launched to trace him and his wife, against whom a Look Out Circular (LOC) had earlier been issued. The fire tore through the Flourish Stay Bed and Breakfast in the densely populated Hauz Rani locality, killing 21 and injuring dozens.

The casualty count

DCP (South Delhi) Anant Mittal said, ‘In the Malviya Nagar fire incident, 49 people were admitted to hospitals. So far, 21 have died, including 9 Indians and 12 foreign nationals. Eight patients have been discharged, while others are under treatment. A case has been registered, and an investigation is ongoing.'

Of the 21 dead, 17 were foreign nationals, reportedly from Bangladesh, Liberia, Nigeria and Mozambique. Rescue teams evacuated 47 people from the building, while 26 injured remain under treatment across city hospitals.

What the Fire Service said

The Delhi Fire Service, in an official statement, said, ‘A fire broke out at Hotel Flourish Stays in Malviya Nagar, Delhi, affecting Basement+Ground floor+5 floors... The blaze impacted multiple floors, with heat and smoke damage, while an investigation into the incident is ongoing.' Police have registered a case under provisions related to culpable homicide and other relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), with investigators probing alleged safety violations and negligence.

What happens next

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), currently governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has assured strict action against those found responsible. According to officials, action against the guilty is expected within a week of the inspection report's submission. The tragedy has revived broader concerns over fire-safety compliance, unauthorised commercial operations and lax building enforcement in the national capital's dense neighbourhoods.