Delhi Police have filed a charge sheet before the Saket Court against three accused — including Flourish Stay hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj — in connection with the Malviya Nagar hotel fire that killed 21 people in the Hauz Rani area of South Delhi. The matter is scheduled to be taken up for consideration on Thursday, officials confirmed on Tuesday, 1 September.

Key Developments

The charge sheet was filed under provisions relating to culpable homicide and other relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), following allegations of serious safety violations, regulatory lapses, and criminal negligence on the part of hotel management. Police have cited alleged violations of fire safety norms as the central basis of the prosecution.

The devastating blaze had engulfed the multi-storey Flourish Stay hotel in the congested Hauz Rani locality during the early hours, trapping guests across the basement, ground floor, and five upper floors. Heat and smoke caused extensive damage throughout the building, according to the Delhi Fire Services.

Victims and Nationalities

Of the 21 people who perished in the tragedy, nine were Indian nationals while the remaining were foreign citizens, including nationals of Bangladesh, Liberia, Nigeria, and Mozambique. Several others sustained injuries in the incident.

What Investigators Found

Preliminary investigations indicated that a short circuit may have triggered the fire. Investigators also examined whether mandatory fire safety measures and evacuation arrangements were in place at the time of the incident.

Police found that the property was registered under the Bed and Breakfast (B&B) scheme, which permitted operation of only six rooms. However, the hotel was allegedly being run with approximately 25 rooms, with several reportedly located in the basement — raising serious compliance questions under safety and building regulations.

Bajaj's Background and Prior Cases

Lavkesh Bajaj was arrested shortly after the fire following a search operation by Delhi Police. A Look Out Circular had been issued against him and his wife during the initial phase of the investigation. Bajaj's prior criminal record also came under scrutiny: according to police sources, he had previously been arrested in a 2025 case relating to the alleged use of forged Indian identity documents and passports by Bangladeshi nationals. A charge sheet was filed in that separate matter as well, and Bajaj had spent approximately 15 days in Tihar Jail before being released on bail, with those proceedings still pending before the court.

Government Response and Wider Crackdown

The Delhi government had earlier ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident and announced a city-wide crackdown against illegal properties, unauthorised guest houses, and establishments operating in violation of fire safety norms and building by-laws. The Malviya Nagar fire has intensified scrutiny of budget hotels and B&B-registered properties operating beyond their licensed capacity across the capital. The next court date on Thursday will determine how the case proceeds.