Public outrage has intensified following revelations that the building completely lacked a valid fire safety clearance certificate.
A New Delhi magistrate court has extended the police custody of hotel owner Lovkesh Bajaj by two days, following the devastating Malviya Nagar fire tragedy. Simultaneously, the court remanded the co-accused hotel cook, Keshav Negi, to 14 days of judicial custody.
The legal action follows a catastrophic blaze that tore through the ‘Flourish Stay’ establishment in the Hauz Rani area of South Delhi. The death toll from the disaster has officially risen to 22 victims, predominantly consisting of foreign medical tourists.
Investigations revealed the tragedy struck on June 3 when an alleged cooking gas leak triggered a massive inferno on the ground floor. Thick smoke quickly trapped guests inside the five-storey structure, which illegally operated 25 rooms despite holding a permit for only six.
Public outrage has intensified following revelations that the building completely lacked a valid fire safety clearance certificate. Opposition leaders and local trade bodies have vehemently criticized civic monitoring agencies, demanding absolute accountability for gross regulatory lapses and delayed emergency responses.
The Delhi Police have invoked stringent charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, against the establishment's management. Investigators are currently interrogating multiple other detained individuals as forensic teams continue gathering evidence from the sealed site.
