Malviya Nagar hotel fire: Delhi Police arrest owner Lavkesh Bajaj, 21 dead
Synopsis
The Malviya Nagar hotel fire was not just a tragedy — it was a licensing failure waiting to happen. A property cleared for six B&B rooms was allegedly running 25, with a single entry-exit point. Owner Lavkesh Bajaj is now in custody, but the probe is widening to three partners, multiple Delhi properties, and the officials who let it slide.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police arrested hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj on 3 June in the Malviya Nagar fire case.
The blaze killed 21 people , including 17 foreign nationals from Liberia, Nigeria, Mozambique and Bangladesh.
The hotel was allegedly running 25 rooms against an approved 6-room Bed and Breakfast licence.
The building reportedly had only one common entry and exit point, hampering evacuation.
47 people were rescued; 26 remain under treatment.
A case has been registered under culpable homicide provisions of the BNS .
Delhi Police on Wednesday arrested Lavkesh Bajaj, the owner of the Malviya Nagar hotel building where a devastating early-morning blaze killed 21 people and injured several others. The arrest, made on 3 June, followed sustained search operations after Bajaj had been absconding since the fire, with a lookout circular issued against him.
How the arrest unfolded
According to officials, multiple police teams conducted coordinated raids across several locations in the national capital to trace the accused. Bajaj was eventually taken into custody after what investigators described as sustained search operations spanning hours.
A case has been registered under provisions of culpable homicide and other relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), following allegations that serious negligence and regulatory violations may have contributed to the high death toll.
Probe widens to ownership network
Investigators are also examining the role of three partners reportedly associated with the hotel's operation. 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.
Alleged safety and licensing violations
Preliminary findings indicated possible violations at the property. The establishment was reportedly registered under the Bed and Breakfast (B&B) category but was allegedly operating far beyond its permitted capacity. Officials suspect that instead of the approved six rooms, nearly 25 rooms were being used to accommodate guests.
The hotel's fire safety arrangements and evacuation infrastructure are also under scrutiny. Reports suggest the building had only one common entry and exit point, which may have severely hampered evacuation as flames rapidly spread through the multi-storey structure.
The casualties
The fire, which broke out in the early morning hours, left 21 people dead, including 17 foreign nationals from countries such as Liberia, Nigeria, Mozambique and Bangladesh. Officials said 47 people were rescued from the building, while 26 remain under treatment.
What happens next
Police are expected to produce Bajaj before a magistrate and seek custody for further questioning. The investigation is likely to extend to municipal officials and licensing authorities who cleared the property's continued operation despite its alleged deviations from the B&B framework.
Point of View
Not a freak accident. A six-room B&B allegedly running 25 rooms with a single exit is a regulatory black hole, not an oversight. Delhi has seen this script repeat — Uphaar, Anaj Mandi, Mundka — and each time the post-mortem points to the same chain: cheap licences, no enforcement, no accountability above the proprietor. Arresting Bajaj is necessary but insufficient; unless the licensing inspectors and municipal sign-offs also face scrutiny, the next fire is already in the pipeline.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lavkesh Bajaj and why was he arrested?
Lavkesh Bajaj is the owner of the Malviya Nagar hotel building where a fire killed 21 people. He was arrested by Delhi Police on 3 June after being absconding since the incident, with a case registered under culpable homicide provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
How many people died in the Malviya Nagar hotel fire?
The fire killed 21 people, including 17 foreign nationals from Liberia, Nigeria, Mozambique and Bangladesh. Officials said 47 people were rescued from the building and 26 remain under treatment.
What safety violations have been alleged at the hotel?
The property was allegedly registered under the Bed and Breakfast category for six rooms but was operating nearly 25 rooms. Investigators have also flagged that the building had only one common entry and exit point, which may have hampered evacuation.
Is the probe limited to the hotel owner?
No. Investigators are also examining the role of three partners reportedly associated with the hotel's operation. The group is believed to run multiple hotels and guest houses across Delhi, and the probe has been widened to cover ownership structures and licensing compliance.
What law has been invoked against the accused?
A case has been registered under provisions of culpable homicide and other relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The charges follow allegations that serious negligence and regulatory violations contributed to the high death toll.
