Malviya Nagar fire: Hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj arrested as toll hits 21
Synopsis
A pre-dawn fire at a Malviya Nagar B&B licensed for six rooms — but allegedly running 25 — killed 21 people, including 17 foreign nationals from Africa and Bangladesh. The owner has been arrested, a magisterial inquiry ordered, and Delhi has promised a city-wide crackdown on unauthorised guest houses operating outside fire safety norms.
Key Takeaways
Lavkesh Bajaj , owner of the Malviya Nagar hotel building, was arrested by Delhi Police on 3 June .
The fire at Flourish Stay B&B in Hauz Rani killed 21 people , including 12 foreign nationals , per DCP Anant Mittal.
Delhi Fire Service said the blaze hit the basement, ground floor and five upper floors; 26 were injured .
The property was registered for around 6 rooms but allegedly operating with nearly 25 rooms .
An FIR under BNS culpable homicide provisions has been filed; a magisterial inquiry has been ordered.
The Delhi CMO has announced a city-wide crackdown on illegal guest houses violating fire safety norms.
Delhi Police on Wednesday arrested Lavkesh Bajaj, owner of the hotel building in Malviya Nagar where a pre-dawn fire killed 21 people and injured several others, officials said. The blaze tore through Flourish Stay Bread and Breakfast in the congested Hauz Rani area of south Delhi on 3 June, triggering a sweeping probe into alleged fire safety violations and unauthorised operations.
Key developments
Bajaj was taken into custody hours after the fire, following a coordinated operation by multiple police teams across the national capital. A look out circular (LOC) had earlier been issued against him and his wife.
‘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 investigation is ongoing,' DCP (South Delhi) Anant Mittal said.
What the Fire Service said
The Delhi Fire Service confirmed the fire affected the basement, ground floor and five upper floors of the property. ‘Twenty-one people died and 26 were injured. Victims include Indian and foreign nationals. The blaze impacted multiple floors, with heat and smoke damage, while investigation into the incident is ongoing,' the department said in a statement. Of the dead, 17 were foreign nationals, reportedly from Liberia, Nigeria, Mozambique and Bangladesh.
Alleged safety violations
An FIR has been registered under provisions of culpable homicide and other relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Preliminary findings indicated that although the establishment was registered under the Bed and Breakfast category — permitted for around six rooms — officials suspect nearly 25 rooms were in active use. Reports suggest the building had only a single common entry and exit point, which may have severely hampered evacuation as flames spread through the structure.
Government response
The Delhi Chief Minister's Office said accountability would be fixed wherever it lies. ‘A Magisterial Inquiry has been ordered and an FIR has been registered against the owner of the property. A city-wide crackdown will be launched against illegal properties, unauthorised guest houses and establishments operating in violation of fire safety norms and building by-laws. Such premises will be sealed and prosecuted in accordance with the law,' the statement said.
Wider probe underway
Investigators are also examining the role of ‘three partners' reportedly linked to the hotel's operations. Sources said the group is believed to run multiple hotels and guest houses across Delhi, prompting authorities to widen the probe into ownership structures, licensing compliance and safety norms. Of the 47 people rescued from the building, 26 remain under treatment. This is among the deadliest commercial-building fires in the capital in recent years, and is likely to reopen scrutiny of how B&B licences are issued and policed across Delhi's dense urban pockets.
Point of View
With a single entry-exit point — a configuration that should never have cleared inspection, let alone hosted foreign guests. Delhi's promised city-wide crackdown will be judged on whether it survives past the news cycle, because the city has been here before: every major fire produces a magisterial inquiry, and most produce no structural change to how B&B and guest house licences are policed. The bigger question is who signed off, and whether the ‘three partners' angle exposes a wider network of non-compliant hospitality stock in south Delhi.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Malviya Nagar fire?
A devastating fire broke out in the early hours of 3 June at Flourish Stay Bread and Breakfast in the Hauz Rani area of Malviya Nagar, south Delhi, killing 21 people and injuring 26. The blaze affected the basement, ground floor and five upper floors of the property.
Who has been arrested in the Malviya Nagar hotel fire case?
Delhi Police have arrested Lavkesh Bajaj, the owner of the hotel building, hours after the fire. A look out circular had earlier been issued against him and his wife, and an FIR has been registered under culpable homicide provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
How many foreign nationals died in the Delhi B&B fire?
According to DCP (South Delhi) Anant Mittal, 12 of the 21 people killed were foreign nationals, while 9 were Indians. Reports suggest the foreign victims included citizens of Liberia, Nigeria, Mozambique and Bangladesh.
What safety violations are being investigated?
Officials suspect the property was registered under the Bed and Breakfast category for around six rooms but was operating nearly 25 rooms. The building reportedly had only one common entry and exit point, which may have hampered evacuation as the fire spread.
What action has the Delhi government announced?
The Delhi Chief Minister's Office has ordered a magisterial inquiry and announced a city-wide crackdown on illegal properties, unauthorised guest houses and establishments violating fire safety norms. Such premises will be sealed and prosecuted, the CMO said.
