A Delhi court on Thursday ordered hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj to be remanded in police custody for four days in connection with the devastating fire at the Flourish Stay B&B in the Malviya Nagar area. The blaze, which erupted on Wednesday morning, claimed 21 lives and left numerous others injured.
Court Proceedings
Judicial Magistrate Bhanu Pratap Singh granted the Delhi Police's request for custodial interrogation of the accused. The police had sought four days of custody to question Bajaj regarding the incident.
Charges Filed
The police have registered a case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:
- Section 105: Culpable homicide not amounting to murder
- Section 326(g): Offence of mischief by fire
- Section 324(5): Wrongful damage of property
- Section 125(a): Negligent act endangering human life and safety
- Section 125(b): Grievous hurt by negligence
- Section 287: Negligent conduct with respect to fire
Victims and Circumstances
Many of the victims were foreign nationals who were staying at the guesthouse while attending to relatives undergoing treatment at nearby hospitals. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to officials.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities are continuing their probe into the incident, which has raised serious questions about fire safety compliance in commercial establishments. The police custody will allow investigators to gather more evidence and determine the sequence of events leading to the tragedy.
