Hariram Gupta Apprehended After Satya Niketan PG Collapse Kills Seven

Seven people were killed when an over 40-year-old five-storey building housing a boys' paying guest accommodation collapsed in south Delhi's Satya Niketan on September 6. Following the incident, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta ordered bulldozer action across Delhi against unauthorised structures, while residents and students across Delhi-NCR began raising safety alarms and vacating paying guest accommodations.

According to the First Information Report registered in the case, building owner Hariram Gupta and his brother constructed four additional floors on top of the old structure to generate more rental income. Investigators alleged that the owners carried out the construction despite being aware that the existing foundation could not bear the additional structural weight.

The property had recently been repaired and converted into a commercial accommodation to capitalise on its proximity to Delhi University. In August 2025, the building was leased to PG operator 'Hostel Daze'. Police sources indicated that the facility had been generating more than Rs 4 lakh in revenue each month.

Police said two shops on the ground floor were also being merged and expanded into a single unit. During this modification, a load-bearing wall was allegedly removed, which sources said compromised the stability of the building and contributed to its sudden collapse.

Delhi Police apprehended Hariram Gupta after deploying more than 10 specialized teams to locate him. When officers reached his home in Gurgaon, Gupta was missing. Investigators subsequently used technical surveillance to trace his movements and issued a look-out circular to prevent him from leaving the country.

Police also interrogated his son, Mahesh Gupta, who had been managing the accommodation on behalf of his parents, Hariram and Urmila Gupta. Mahesh was questioned regarding construction records, ownership, and possession documents. Investigators stated they are also examining the local "PG mafia" of private operators facilitating unauthorised construction and operating rental facilities on commission.

The collapse triggered widespread fear among students and young professionals residing in paying guest accommodations across Delhi-NCR, including Noida. Residents reported heightened worries over structural safety, uninspected building alterations, and poor maintenance, prompting many tenants to reconsider their living arrangements.