🚨 Delhi Hotel Fire: Unlicensed Property Owner Arrested After Tragedy Kills 21

NEW DELHI — Delhi Police have arrested hotel entrepreneur Lavkesh Bajaj following a devastating fire in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar neighborhood hotellavkush.com that claimed 21 lives. The fatal incident has triggered a sprawling investigation, exposing deep regulatory failures, illegal structural expansions, and potential links to an international human trafficking network operating out of the city’s central hospitality hubs.

The Malviya Nagar Tragedy and Safety Lapses

The fire erupted inside the Flourish Stay B&B, a five-story building located in the densely populated Hauz Rani area, adjacent to Max Hospital. The property primarily served medical tourists. Among the 21 victims were 12 foreign nationals from various African and Central Asian nations who had traveled to the capital for specialized healthcare.

According to preliminary forensic reports, the blaze was sparked during a routine cooking gas cylinder replacement on the property while a burner stove was mistakenly left lit. The fire spread rapidly through the narrow structure due to severe safety violations:

• Zero Licensing: The building operated entirely without a valid fire safety certificate or municipal lodge permits.
• No Emergency Exits: The structure lacked emergency exits, leaving trapped guests with no viable escape routes.
• Illegal Basement Rooms: The basement had been illegally converted into highly profitable guest rooms, which completely cut off ventilation.

When questioned by authorities regarding the lack of compliance, Bajaj allegedly dismisses safety regulations, telling investigators, “In Delhi, anything goes.” Bajaj fled his Saket mansion shortly after the fire but was apprehended by a special police team following a brief manhunt.

Links to Forgery and Human Trafficking

As the Delhi Police Special Cell deepens its background checks, investigators have revealed that Bajaj is a repeat offender with a history centered around the Paharganj hospitality hub. This tragedy has pulled back the curtain on a much larger criminal operation:

• Identity Forgery Racket: In January 2025, Paharganj authorities arrested Bajaj for allowing his local addresses to be used to secure fraudulent Indian passports, voter IDs, and Aadhaar cards for illegal immigrants.
• Trafficking Syndicate Probe: The Delhi Police Special CP confirmed that authorities are now investigating Bajaj for operating an international human trafficking syndicate. Investigators believe he utilized medical tourism as a legal front to smuggle foreign nationals into India.

The Delhi government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident, alongside an immediate fire safety audit of all budget hotels and bed-and-breakfasts operating across the Paharganj and Malviya Nagar districts. Bajaj remains in police custody under charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.