Malviya Nagar Hotel Owner Arrested After Deadly Fire Kills 21 Guests

The Delhi Police on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, arrested 60-year-old Lavkesh Bajaj, the co-owner of Hotel Flourish Stays in Hauz Rani, Malviya Nagar, in connection with a devastating hotel fire that claimed the lives of 21 guests. During police questioning, Bajaj admitted to illegally increasing the number of rooms at the property to maximize his business profits, reportedly telling officials, "everything goes in Delhi."

The tragedy occurred at the hotel, which also operated under the name Flourish Stays B&B. Out of the 21 victims who lost their lives in the blaze, 12 were identified as foreign nationals. Bajaj was arrested by the police on Wednesday night, shortly after the incident.

According to the police, Bajaj purchased the three-storey building in the narrow lanes of Hauz Rani in 2022 with the plan to convert it into a Bed and Breakfast. While he only possessed municipal permission to operate six rooms on the property, the building was subsequently expanded into a five-storey structure with a basement, housing 26 rooms.

An initial probe conducted by the Delhi Police and fire authorities revealed severe safety lapses. The establishment was operating without a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the fire department. Additionally, the building was filled with highly combustible decor, which accelerated the spread of the flames.

A Delhi Fire Services official stated that Bajaj had installed numerous wooden and plastic frames on both the interior and exterior of the building. This heavy reliance on flammable materials significantly increased the combustible load of the structure, compounding the danger during the fire.

When questioned about the lapses, Bajaj told investigators that he had expanded the hotel because the business was highly profitable. He also claimed that he lacked the time to personally oversee the daily operations of the hotel and had hired a staff to handle the premises.

The police have also questioned Bajaj’s wife as part of the criminal investigation. Authorities are currently investigating two other properties owned by Bajaj in the local area, which are now under scrutiny for alleged regulatory and safety violations.