A deadly fire at a hotel in Malviya Nagar, south Delhi, kills 21 people, according to multiple reports. Delhi Police detain the hotel owner, Lavkesh (Lokesh) Bajaj, and also pursue other suspects connected to the property. One outlet reports that Bajaj had previously been arrested in 2025 for allegedly helping facilitate the illegal stay of Bangladeshi nationals by allowing people to use his address for fraudulent Indian identity documents in return for money; police are examining whether this earlier case is linked to the fire investigation. Other reporting says police issue a Look-Out Circular to prevent Bajaj from fleeing, and officers visit his residence as part of the probe.
Sources also describe alleged violations of building and fire safety rules at the hotel, including operation at far above permitted capacity and lack of fire safety clearance. Reports further allege unauthorized additional floors. In addition to Bajaj, Mint reports that his aide and accountant, Jay Mishra, surrenders before a court following the incident. Police continue to investigate the circumstances of the blaze and potential regulatory breaches.
