The Delhi Police has apprehended a cook employed at a south Delhi hotel where a catastrophic fire claimed 21 lives earlier this week. Investigators suspect that his negligence may have triggered the blaze, officials confirmed on Saturday.
Arrest and Investigation
The cook, identified as Keshav Negi, was taken into custody. According to police sources, preliminary findings indicate that his actions could have contributed to the fire's outbreak. Authorities are meticulously examining the sequence of events and circumstances leading to the incident. Several other individuals associated with the establishment have also been detained and are undergoing questioning as part of the ongoing probe into the fire at Flourish Stays Bed and Breakfast, situated in the Hauz Rani area of Malviya Nagar.
Expanding Probe into Safety Violations
The latest arrest marks an expansion of the Delhi Police investigation into alleged safety violations, unauthorized construction, and the roles of those involved in the hotel's management and daily operations. The fire erupted on Wednesday morning, resulting in 21 fatalities, including a 16-year-old girl and multiple foreign nationals from Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Iraq, Congo, Mozambique, and Liberia.
Earlier, police had arrested the hotel owner, Lavkesh Bajaj, and charged him with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Investigators are now probing whether negligence, breaches of fire safety norms, and unauthorized modifications to the property contributed to the high death toll.
Ongoing Inquiry
The inquiry continues as authorities question hotel staff and others linked to the property's operations. The focus remains on determining liability and ensuring accountability for the tragic loss of life.
