A court in New Delhi on Monday dismissed the bail plea of Keshav Negi, the cook employed at a bed and breakfast establishment in Hauz Rani, and remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody. Negi faces serious allegations in connection with a fire that broke out at the premises.
Court's Decision on Bail
Judicial Magistrate First Class Bhanu Pratap Singh observed, “Considering that the investigation is at an initial stage and there are serious allegations... of an offence punishable with the imprisonment for life, this court isn’t inclined to grant bail.” The magistrate's remarks underscored the gravity of the charges against Negi.
Prosecution's Allegations
The prosecution has accused Negi of negligence, claiming that the fire originated while he was present in the basement kitchen of the B&B. It further alleged that he failed to take adequate measures to contain the blaze, leading to its rapid spread.
Defense Arguments
Negi’s counsel, advocate Deepak Prakash, contested these claims, arguing that his client was being made a scapegoat for failures and violations that are attributable to the proprietors. He pointed out that the rapid spread of the fire itself is “attributed in the reasons of arrest,” but the blame for lack of compliance “squarely lay with the owner and management.”
Prakash highlighted specific safety lapses: rubber pipes connected to LPG cylinders had melted and leaked, raising questions about the choice of piping. He also noted that the placement of cylinders, absence of fire extinguishers, alarms, sprinklers, emergency exits, and a valid fire NOC were all in the “exclusive domain of the hotel’s owners and management.” Additionally, he stated that Negi informed the hotel manager, Rupesh, who is now absconding, and exhausted all available fire extinguishers in an attempt to control the fire.
Custody of Owners and Manager
The court granted two days of police custody for owner Lovkesh Bajaj and manager Jay Mishra, who had surrendered. Regarding Mishra, the court noted that “he was working as an accountant and was actively associated with the affairs and functioning of the establishment.”
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with authorities continuing to probe the circumstances surrounding the fire and the responsibilities of all parties involved.
