Malviya Nagar Fire: Delhi Court Denies Bail To Cook, Extends Hotel Owner's Remand To Police Custody By 2 Days

A Delhi Court on Monday (June 2) extended by two days the police custody remand of Lavkesh Bajaj, the owner of the hotel building in Malviya Nagar where a devastating fire killed 21 people last week.

Judicial Magistrate First Class Bhanu Pratap Singh of Saket Courts also denied bail to the cook Keshav Negi and he was sent to 14 days of judicial custody.

Negi was arrested on Saturday with the Delhi Police alleging that his negligence played a role in triggering the blaze which ripped through the Flourish Stay B&B in the congested Hauz Rani area in the city.

Last week, the hotel owner was apprehended and he was sent to four days of police custody remand.

Shortly after the incident, the Delhi Police had issued a look out circular (LOC) against Bjaja and his wife in order to trace them.

The first information report (FIR) was registered against Bajaj under Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 326 (mischief by fire) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

At least 58 people were rescued and taken to hospitals, where 21 were declared dead.

As per officials, the hotel was operating without a fire NOC in a congested bylane, killing at least 21 people, some of which were African nationals, and some from Turkmenistan.

Reportedly, the building in question had approval for only six rooms but was operating more than 20 and had a single entry-exit point.