Delhi Police Chargesheet Three in Malviya Nagar Hotel Fire Case at Saket Court

Delhi Police on Tuesday filed a chargesheet before a Saket court against three individuals, including the owner of Flourish Hotel, in connection with the fatal fire in Malviya Nagar that claimed 22 lives.

The chargesheet was submitted before duty magistrate Areeba Khan and has been listed for consideration on September 3. The blaze broke out at Flourish Hotel in Delhi's Malviya Nagar area on June 3, killing 22 people, including 13 foreigners, and injuring several others. Most of the victims were attendants and relatives of patients undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital who were residing at the establishment.

Police have named three accused in the chargesheet: hotel owner Lovkesh Bajaj, hotel accountant Jay Mishra, and cook Kesar Negi. According to police reports, Mishra was produced before the court from judicial custody. Bajaj remains in judicial custody while receiving treatment in a hospital, and Negi is currently out on bail.

Investigators have invoked multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against Bajaj. The charges include Section 105 for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, Section 326(g) concerning mischief by fire, Section 324(5) related to mischief causing damage to property, Section 125 pertaining to acts endangering the life or personal safety of others, and Section 287 concerning negligent conduct with respect to fire.

Jay Mishra had previously surrendered before the court on June 8 and was remanded to judicial custody. Kesar Negi was arrested during the initial investigation and was later granted bail by the Saket court on July 27.

The case is scheduled to come up for formal consideration before the Saket court later this week as legal proceedings continue.