The investigation into the devastating Malviya Nagar hotel fire that claimed 21 lives has uncovered troubling details about the past of the hotel’s owner, Lavkesh Bajaj. As Delhi Police continue to examine possible safety violations and negligence that may have contributed to the tragedy, records show that Bajaj was previously arrested in 2025 in a case involving forged Indian identity documents for illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.
According to police records, the earlier case emerged in January 2025 when authorities received information that a Bangladeshi family was living in Delhi’s Paharganj area using forged Indian documents. During a raid, police recovered Bangladeshi passports, Indian passports, Aadhaar cards, and banking documents allegedly linked to individuals residing illegally in India. Investigators later traced one of the addresses used for obtaining Indian identity documents to a property connected to Lavkesh Bajaj.
Police alleged that Bajaj knowingly allowed Bangladeshi nationals to use his residential address for obtaining Indian identity documents in exchange for money. Following the investigation, he was arrested along with other accused persons and spent around 15 days in Tihar Jail before securing bail. The case remains pending before the courts.
The revelation has intensified scrutiny of Bajaj following the deadly fire at the Flourish Stay B&B in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar. Authorities have already found multiple alleged irregularities in the operation of the establishment. Reports indicate that the property was operating without necessary fire safety clearances and had expanded far beyond its originally permitted capacity. Investigators are also examining allegations of unauthorized construction and serious violations of safety norms.
The June 4, 2026, fire killed 21 people, including several foreign nationals, making it one of the deadliest fire tragedies in Delhi in recent years. Police have arrested Bajaj and obtained custody to question him about the hotel’s operations, licensing, staffing, and safety compliance. Authorities are also searching for key hotel staff members as part of the ongoing investigation.
The emergence of Bajaj’s previous arrest has raised broader questions about regulatory oversight and enforcement.
As investigators piece together the circumstances surrounding the fire, the focus is now not only on what caused the blaze but also on whether earlier warnings and legal troubles should have triggered closer scrutiny of the establishment long before disaster struck.
