New Delhi: Did bed and breakfast owner Lovkesh Bajaj flee the scene of the fire? Among the many questions surrounding the Hauz Rani B&B fire tragedy, this one is the most damning. At least one person in the Hauz Rani neighbourhood has claimed that he called Bajaj to inform him about the blaze. The Times of India spoke to Wasim Khan, who said he notified Bajaj about the fire. Khan showed his phone’s call records, indicating a 26-second call to the B&B owner at 8:52 am on Wednesday. “I told him there was a fire. He said he knew about it. I also told him that no one would survive,” Khan said.
Khan also claimed that Bajaj arrived at the scene within about 10 minutes of the conversation. He said he remembers seeing Bajaj at the spot while the rescue operation was underway. “He was wearing a white T-shirt and was standing there watching the rescue effort,” Khan added. Arman, another resident, noted that Bajaj usually visited the B&B every day, either in the morning or evening.
Investigators are now examining Bajaj’s call detail records and other evidence, such as CCTV footage, to ascertain his movements after the blaze broke out. Sources said that Bajaj did pass through the area during the day. Police indicated that his location first appeared as Gurgaon. After that, he appears to have switched off his phone. He kept driving around Delhi trying to find a lawyer. His wife was with him. The police are also analyzing his car’s fast-tag data, which has confirmed his presence in south Delhi on Wednesday evening.
In Saket’s D-Block, where Bajaj lived, local residents recalled seeing him on morning and evening walks, exchanging pleasantries with neighbors or stopping by the neighborhood temple. When TOI visited the area, people described Bajaj as a long-time local. His house, tucked away in a quiet lane lined with trees and overlooking a park, stood out among the surrounding houses. It looked modern and new. Locals said the property was rebuilt about five years ago into a four-storey structure, with each floor having a single flat. Bajaj and his wife lived on the upper ground floor. The remaining flats on the first, second, and third floors were rented out. “The family kept to themselves, but everyone knew them,” said an employee working at a nearby residence.
There were a few small rooms in the stilt parking area. Unlike the upscale apartments above, these rooms were rented out separately at lower rates. One such room was reportedly occupied by a foreigner who came to Delhi five to six months ago for medical treatment. Many of those who died in the bed and breakfast fire had also come to Delhi for medical treatment.
Residents said Bajaj had multiple businesses and owned several properties in the area. He often traveled abroad. Some people claimed that Bajaj briefly visited the residence on Wednesday morning before leaving. By then, news of the deadly blaze was widespread. Many in the locality said they were struggling to reconcile the man they knew as a courteous neighbor with the B&B tragedy.
TOI visited another B&B in the area allegedly owned by Bajaj. It has a similar name to Flourish Stay Bed and Breakfast, now reduced to ashes. The second one is called Flourish Inn Guest House. This building, too, was constructed with little regard for safety and building regulations. There was a single staircase adjacent to a lift, which was the only exit. Each floor has five to six rooms, none with a window. The only ventilation is through the air conditioner. A small common area outside the rooms, with sofas and a refrigerator, has a glass window that is jammed shut. The building’s exterior features toughened glass, and the structure is open only on one side. When TOI attempted to access the terrace, the door appeared either locked or jammed shut. The property also has rooms in the basement, raising further concerns about evacuation.
