Malviya Nagar blaze: Chargesheet filed | Alternative exit at B&B blocked during construction, say police

On June 3, a devastating fire broke out at a bed and breakfast (B&B) property in Malviya Nagar, Delhi, resulting in the tragic deaths of 23 people, including foreign nationals. The Delhi Police have filed a nearly 1,500-page chargesheet against three individuals – property owner Lavkesh Bajaj, manager-cum-accountant Jai Mishra, and cook Kesar Negi – in connection with the tragedy. Negi is currently out on bail, while Bajaj and Mishra are in judicial custody.

According to the investigation, Bajaj sought to operate the property as a hotel but lacked the necessary permissions and a fire clearance certificate. He allegedly obtained a license under the Tourism department’s B&B scheme by presenting the property as a residence owned by Mishra. Further, it has emerged that Mishra submitted a false affidavit, claiming he was residing at the premises when, in reality, he was not.

The probe found that Bajaj had initially constructed a two-storey building. However, additional floors were subsequently added, during which the alternative exit route at the rear of the building was allegedly blocked, allegedly to create more rooms and transform the property into a full-fledged hotel. Operating a hotel without proper permissions and a fire clearance certificate, combined with the absence of an escape route, contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.

The fire reportedly started in the kitchen when Negi left an oil fryer switched on while preparing tea for himself. The oil reached its auto-ignition temperature, triggering a massive blaze that engulfed the building. Negi reportedly attempted to extinguish the flames but fled when they grew beyond his control, failing to alert guests, neighbors, or emergency services.

The chargesheet names over 130 witnesses and includes judicial and medical records, among other documents gathered during the investigation. The final report from the Forensic Science Laboratory is still awaited, and the police may file a supplementary chargesheet once they receive it.