Malviya Nagar hotel fire: Delhi Police book owner for culpable homicide, 21 dead
Synopsis
A multi-storey hotel-restaurant in south Delhi's Malviya Nagar became a death trap on Wednesday, killing 21 and sending rescuers — including 10 Delhi Police personnel — to hospital. Police have now invoked culpable homicide under the BNS against the operators, with owner Lokesh Bajaj and his partners' wider hotel portfolio under the scanner.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police registered a culpable homicide case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in the Malviya Nagar fire on 3 June .
21 people died and 26 are undergoing treatment after 47 were rescued from the Lemon Green Restaurant building.
Hotel owner identified as Lokesh Bajaj ; three partners reportedly run multiple hotels and guest houses across Delhi.
AIIMS Delhi received 13 patients , including three who jumped from a height to escape.
10 Delhi Police personnel — five head constables and five constables — were injured while leading the initial rescue.
The Delhi Police on 3 June registered a culpable homicide case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the Malviya Nagar hotel fire that has claimed 21 lives, officials confirmed. The blaze, which tore through the multi-storey Lemon Green Restaurant building on Wednesday morning, has triggered a multi-agency probe into ownership, operations and fire-safety compliance.
Key developments
According to sources, the hotel owner has been identified as Lokesh Bajaj, with three partners reportedly involved in the establishment's operations. The same group is said to own several other hotels and guest houses across the city, all of which are now likely to come under regulatory scrutiny.
Investigators are examining the hotel's ownership structure, operational practices and adherence to safety norms, sources said.
Casualty toll and rescue
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (South Delhi) Jitender Kumar confirmed that 21 people died and 26 are undergoing treatment after a total of 47 were rescued. ‘Our search and rescue operation was completed at 12:12 p.m. A total of 47 people were rescued, out of which 21 have died, and 26 are undergoing treatment,' SDM Kumar said.
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, said it had received 13 patients, including three who suffered injuries after reportedly jumping from a height to escape the flames. The hospital said three bodies have been shifted to the Burns and Plastic Surgery Department.
Police personnel among the injured
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. Their condition is being monitored.
Why it matters
The Malviya Nagar tragedy adds to a recurring pattern of fatal commercial-building fires in the national capital, where safety audits have repeatedly flagged compliance gaps in hotels, guest houses and restaurants. The decision to invoke culpable homicide — rather than a lesser negligence charge — signals the gravity with which investigators are treating alleged lapses by the operators.
What's next
Senior officials from the Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Services and rescue agencies remain at the site. A forensic examination of the building, scrutiny of fire-clearance records and statements from survivors are expected to shape the next stage of the probe.
Point of View
Given Delhi's grim history of commercial-building fires from Uphaar to Anaj Mandi. The real question is whether this case breaks the cycle of high-profile FIRs that quietly fade into procedural limbo. With the operators reportedly running a chain of hotels and guest houses, the probe must extend beyond one building to the licensing ecosystem that lets unsafe structures stay open. Anything less, and the 21 deaths become another statistic in a city that has stopped being shocked by them.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Malviya Nagar fire?
A massive fire broke out on Wednesday morning at the multi-storey Lemon Green Restaurant building in Malviya Nagar, south Delhi, killing 21 people. A total of 47 were rescued, and 26 are still undergoing treatment.
What case has Delhi Police registered?
Delhi Police have registered a case under the culpable homicide section and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Investigators are probing ownership, operations and safety compliance at the hotel.
Who owns the hotel where the fire broke out?
According to sources, the hotel owner has been identified as Lokesh Bajaj. Three partners are reportedly involved in its operations and own several other hotels and guest houses across Delhi.
How many rescuers were injured?
Ten Delhi Police personnel — five head constables and five constables — were injured while carrying out the rescue and are being treated at AIIMS Delhi. They were the first responders to enter the burning building.
How many patients did AIIMS Delhi receive?
AIIMS Delhi received 13 patients from the fire site. Three of them suffered injuries after reportedly jumping from a height to escape, and three bodies were shifted to the Burns and Plastic Surgery Department.
