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Court sends owner, accountant to 12-day judicial custody (Img: Internet)
New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday remanded the owner and accountant of a hotel linked to the deadly Malviya Nagar fire tragedy to 12 days of judicial custody as investigators continue to probe alleged safety lapses and regulatory violations behind the incident that claimed 22 lives.
The accused, hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj and accountant Jay Mishra, were produced before Judge Bhanu Pratap Singh after the completion of their police custody. The court granted the Delhi Police's request for judicial remand while the investigation into the fire continues.
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The Delhi Police had earlier arrested Bajaj and Mishra on allegations related to negligence, non-compliance with safety norms and operational irregularities at the establishment. Authorities are examining whether violations of fire safety regulations and building norms contributed to the scale of the tragedy.
Investigators have also arrested Keshav Negi, a cook employed at the hotel, alleging that negligence on his part may have played a role in the outbreak of the fire. Several other individuals associated with the hotel have been detained and questioned as part of the ongoing inquiry.
The devastating fire occurred on June 3 at Flourish Stay B&B in Delhi's Hauz Rani area of Malviya Nagar. According to preliminary findings, the blaze reportedly originated in a restaurant and kitchen section located on the lower floor of the building before rapidly spreading through the multi-storey structure.
Guests staying in the hotel found themselves trapped as thick smoke and flames engulfed the premises. In desperate attempts to save their lives, some occupants reportedly jumped from windows.
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A significant number of those staying at the hotel were foreign nationals who had travelled to Delhi either for medical treatment or to accompany relatives receiving care at nearby hospitals. The fire ultimately claimed 22 lives and left several others injured, making it one of the capital's deadliest hotel fire incidents in recent years.
The tragedy has triggered a wider investigation into the hotel's operations, licensing and adherence to fire safety requirements. Authorities are scrutinising whether the establishment possessed the necessary clearances and whether adequate emergency measures were in place.
As the probe progresses, police are expected to question more individuals and examine documents related to the hotel's management and safety compliance.
