In the Malviya Nagar hotel fire case, the accused Lavkesh Bajaj has a history of previous criminal activities, as per Delhi Police sources. Bajaj, who is now in custody for his alleged involvement in the fire incident, was previously arrested by Delhi Police in a fake passport case last year. This case, involving the alleged provision of forged Indian documents to Bangladeshi nationals, led to Bajaj spending around 15 days in Tihar Jail before being released on bail.
Police teams investigating the hotel fire are also searching for the hotel’s accountant, Jai Mishra, and manager Rakesh. Jai Mishra, a resident of Chhatarpur in Delhi, has been missing since the incident. Authorities are gathering information on manager Rakesh and other hotel staff members as part of the ongoing probe.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta will lead a meeting to address ways to prevent similar fatal incidents like the Malviya Nagar fire and to crack down on unauthorized construction. The government has vowed to hold accountable anyone responsible for the fire incident. The Chief Minister emphasized the need for comprehensive efforts to enhance public safety in Delhi, focusing on safety compliance, monitoring systems, and accountability to prevent such tragedies.
Lavkesh Bajaj, the hotel owner, was apprehended after an extensive search by Delhi Police, leading to his four-day police custody. He appeared before a Delhi court recently. The accused’s lawyer mentioned not receiving a copy of the First Information Report (FIR), prompting Delhi Police to assure its provision. Police have requested Bajaj’s custody to gather more information about the hotel staff and documents.
Bajaj’s lawyer argued that the arrest was solely due to his ownership of the hotel, questioning the grounds for his detention. Delhi Police highlighted the severity of the fire, which has delayed forensic investigations.
