Delhi Malviya Nagar Hotel Fire: In a fresh development in the hotel fire case that claimed 21 lives in Delhi's Malviya Nagar on June 3, the owner of the property, Lovekesh Bajaj, had previously been arrested in a case involving the alleged procurement of forged Indian identity documents for Bangladeshi nationals.
Bajaj has also been accused of allegedly "facilitating" the illegal stay of Bangladeshi nationals through fraudulently obtained Indian documents, according to police records.
Lovekesh Bajaj, proprietor of Flourish Stays B&B, is currently in four-day police custody in connection with the devastating fire that broke out at the south Delhi establishment. Investigators are probing the circumstances that led to the blaze and are also searching for other individuals associated with the hotel's management.
What Are the Allegations?
According to police, Bajaj was among the accused in a case registered at the Paharganj Police Station on January 29, 2025, concerning the alleged illegal stay of Bangladeshi nationals in central Delhi using Indian identity documents obtained through fraudulent means. The case was registered under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
During the investigation, police found that two individuals identified as Sweety Sarkar alias Beauty Hawladar alias Johra Khatoon and her daughter, Pushpo Sarkar alias Pushpo Hawlader alias Puspo Saiyada Akther, along with Pushpo's minor son, were residing in a house in Paharganj allegedly on the basis of fraudulently procured Indian documents, including passports and Aadhaar cards.
Police said the investigation revealed that Sweety Sarkar had obtained an Indian passport using an address in Chattarpur Enclave in south Delhi. Verification of the address allegedly established that the property belonged to Bajaj.
The revelation comes amid the ongoing probe into the fire at Flourish Stays, which killed 21 people, including several foreign nationals, and left many others injured.
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Bajaj was arrested on Wednesday evening in connection with the fire case. After being produced before a court, investigators sought his police remand, stating that they needed to verify details of workers, employees, and other individuals involved in the operation of the establishment, as well as identify and trace persons linked to its management.