Malviya Nagar fire: Dhami speaks to Delhi CM Gupta over Keshav Negi arrest
Synopsis
Twenty-one people are dead, a cook is under arrest, and now two chief ministers are on the phone. Uttarakhand CM Dhami's intervention in the Malviya Nagar hotel fire case — where the Flourish Stay B&B allegedly ran 20-plus rooms on a six-room permit and without a fire NOC for nearly a decade — puts a human face on a systemic failure that cost 21 lives.
Key Takeaways
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke to Delhi CM Rekha Gupta on 7 June over the arrest of cook Keshav Negi (65) in the Malviya Nagar hotel fire case.
The fire at Flourish Stay B&B on 3 June killed 21 people , including 13 foreign nationals , and injured dozens.
Gupta reportedly assured Dhami that the investigation would be fact-based and no innocent person would face injustice.
The hotel allegedly operated more than 20 rooms against a permitted capacity of 6 , and had no fire NOC for 7–8 years .
BJP MPs Trivendra Singh Rawat and Anil Baluni met Delhi Police seeking a fair, transparent probe and pledged legal support to Negi.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday, 7 June confirmed that he held a conversation with Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta regarding the arrest of Keshav Negi, a 65-year-old cook detained in connection with the Malviya Nagar hotel fire case. Gupta reportedly assured Dhami that no innocent person would face injustice and that the probe would be driven entirely by facts and evidence.
Background: The Malviya Nagar Hotel Fire
A devastating fire tore through the multi-storeyed Flourish Stay B&B in the Malviya Nagar area of New Delhi on 3 June, killing 21 people, including 13 foreign nationals, and injuring dozens more. The property's owner, Lavkesh Bajaj, was arrested shortly after the tragedy. Investigators subsequently arrested Keshav Negi on Saturday, alleging his negligence triggered the blaze.
What CM Dhami Said
In a post on X, Dhami stated: 'Today, I held discussions with the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Rekha Gupta, regarding the arrest of Mr Keshav Negi from Uttarakhand in connection with the Malviya Nagar fire incident.' He expressed confidence in an impartial probe, adding: 'Rekha Gupta has assured that no innocent person will face injustice and that the investigation will be conducted entirely based on facts and evidence. I have full confidence that the Delhi government and the concerned agencies will bring the truth to light through an impartial investigation.'
Dhami also said he personally spoke with Negi's daughter, Kanishka Negi, and pledged all possible assistance. 'Our government stands shoulder to shoulder with all migrant brothers and sisters from Uttarakhand living across the country,' he said.
BJP MPs Seek Fair Probe
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Trivendra Singh Rawat and Garhwal MP Anil Baluni met Delhi Police to press for a fair and transparent investigation, assuring Keshav Negi of full legal support. Rawat said the party would ensure that justice was not denied to the arrested cook.
Serious Violations Uncovered
Investigators have flagged significant regulatory lapses at the hotel. Officials said the property had permission to operate only six rooms but was running more than 20 at the time of the fire. Critically, the hotel had reportedly been functioning for seven to eight years without obtaining a mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Delhi Fire Services — a violation that is now central to the investigation.
What Happens Next
The probe into the Malviya Nagar fire is ongoing, with authorities expected to examine the full chain of regulatory failures. The political attention from Uttarakhand underscores the broader concern over the safety of migrant workers from the state employed across Delhi's hospitality sector. Further developments are awaited as investigators piece together the sequence of events that led to one of Delhi's deadliest hotel fires in recent memory.
Point of View
But it risks distracting from the structural failures at the centre of this tragedy. A hotel operating 20-plus rooms on a six-room permit, with no fire NOC for nearly a decade, did not slip through the system by accident — it was enabled by it. The real accountability question is not whether a cook was negligent, but how a property in a regulated urban zone operated illegally for seven to eight years without triggering a single enforcement action. That question deserves as much political attention as the arrest.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Keshav Negi and why was he arrested?
Keshav Negi is a 65-year-old cook who was arrested on Saturday in connection with the Malviya Nagar hotel fire. Investigators allege his negligence caused the blaze that killed 21 people at the Flourish Stay B&B on 3 June.
What did Uttarakhand CM Dhami say about the arrest?
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said he spoke directly with Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, who assured him that no innocent person would face injustice and that the probe would be based solely on facts and evidence. Dhami also personally called Negi's daughter, Kanishka Negi, and pledged government support.
How many people died in the Malviya Nagar hotel fire?
The fire at Flourish Stay B&B in Malviya Nagar, New Delhi, on 3 June claimed 21 lives, including 13 foreign nationals, and injured dozens of others. Property owner Lavkesh Bajaj was also arrested following the incident.
What violations have been found at the hotel?
Officials said the hotel had permission to operate only six rooms but was running more than 20. It had also allegedly been operating for seven to eight years without a mandatory No Objection Certificate from the Delhi Fire Services.
What support have BJP leaders offered to Keshav Negi?
BJP MP Trivendra Singh Rawat and Garhwal MP Anil Baluni met Delhi Police to demand a fair and transparent investigation. Rawat assured Negi of full legal support to ensure justice is not denied.
