Malviya Nagar Hotel Fire That Killed 21 Caused By Short Circuit, Owner Arrested
A devastating fire that killed 21 people at the Flourish Stays B&B in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar was prima facie caused by a short circuit, according to a Delhi Police investigation reported on June 4, 2026. Following the incident, police arrested the property owner, Lavkesh Bajaj, on Wednesday night as investigators probe whether extensive structural modifications compromised safety norms.
During questioning, Bajaj told police that he purchased the property approximately three years ago from a man identified as Ahluwalia. Although the building is about 40 years old, substantial renovation work, including modifications to the facade and interiors, had been carried out over the last two to three years.
Investigators are currently examining whether these renovation changes altered the original structure and compromised safety protocols. The building has since been declared dangerous by officials, as portions of the interior became unstable after the blaze, with glass panels, tiles, and other fittings coming loose.
Initial probes by police and fire authorities revealed severe safety violations at the establishment. The hotel was operating 26 rooms despite having a permit for only six. Furthermore, the property did not possess a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the fire department.
A Delhi Fire Services official stated that Bajaj had installed multiple wooden and plastic frames inside and outside the building as part of its decor, which significantly increased the combustible load. While fire extinguishers were present inside the hotel, officials noted they were of no use during the emergency.
Additionally, LPG cylinders were present inside the premises, though officials found no evidence that any of them exploded during the fire. Authorities are also investigating alleged violations of food-safety regulations at the restaurant operating on the premises.
The structure of the building comprised a basement with four rooms and a kitchen, a ground floor housing the reception area, a restaurant, and two rooms, and four upper floors containing about five rooms each. A kitchen was also running on the top floor.
An FIR was registered against Bajaj on the complaint of a police officer, charging him with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The complaint stated that the owner failed to ensure adequate safety measures at the building, resulting in the fatal fire.
