Delhi Hotel Fire Tragedy: Owner Held, Manager Missing; Major Developments So Far

The investigation into the devastating fire at Flourish Stay, a bed-and-breakfast establishment in Delhi's Malviya Nagar area, has gathered pace after a court sent owner Lavkesh Bajaj to four days' police custody. The blaze claimed 21 lives, including 12 foreign nationals, and left several others injured, prompting a large-scale probe into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

Authorities are now examining forensic evidence, investigating possible safety violations and searching for the hotel's manager as questions mount over how the fire became one of the capital's deadliest hotel disasters in recent years.

Owner In Police Custody As Investigation Expands

A Delhi court on Thursday granted four days' police custody of Lavkesh Bajaj after Delhi Police sought custodial interrogation to uncover the sequence of events that led to the fatal fire. According to investigators, Bajaj has been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, mischief by fire, damage to property, negligence endangering human life, grievous hurt by negligence and negligent conduct with respect to fire.

Police officials said the exact cause of the blaze remains unknown and is currently under investigation. A forensic team has collected samples from the site and is analysing them to determine what triggered the fire.

Search Underway For Missing Hotel Manager

Investigators have also launched a search for Jai Mishra, the manager of Flourish Stay, who has reportedly been missing since the fire broke out around 8.45 am on Wednesday.

According to police, Bajaj told investigators that Mishra was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the establishment. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Anant Mittal said, "Bajaj disclosed that Mishra handled the daily operations of the business establishment. We arrested Bajaj on Wednesday night. Mishra is absconding, and our teams are conducting raids to nab him."

Police teams are conducting raids at multiple locations in an effort to trace Mishra and determine his role in the operation of the property.

Alleged Safety Violations Come Under Scanner

As part of the probe, authorities have uncovered several alleged violations at the property. Officials said the bed-and-breakfast had been operating for seven to eight years without obtaining a no-objection certificate from the Delhi Fire Services.

Investigators further claimed that the establishment lacked a designated fire exit and was operating 26 rooms despite having approval for only six. Authorities are now examining compliance records and safety measures linked to the property to determine whether lapses contributed to the scale of the disaster.

Victims, Injured Survivors And Citywide Inspections

The fire erupted on Wednesday morning, trapping several guests inside and triggering a major rescue operation. Many of the occupants were foreign nationals who had travelled to Delhi to accompany relatives receiving treatment at nearby hospitals.

The tragedy left 21 people dead and dozens injured. Fifteen injured victims are currently receiving treatment at Max Super Speciality Hospital in Saket. Hospital authorities said all admitted patients are stable, while six remain on ventilator support. Doctors stated that all six patients are stable and showing gradual signs of improvement under close supervision.

In response to the incident, Delhi Mayor Pravesh Wahi announced the formation of a joint task force to identify safety violations across the city. Speaking to ANI, Wahi said, "Following the meeting convened by the Lieutenant Governor (LG), a joint task force comprising the DM, DC, CP, and AC has been constituted, and this team is continuously conducting inspections. Wherever violations are detected--be it in specific properties or premises--those establishments will be sealed."

With forensic findings still pending and the search for the manager ongoing, investigators are expected to focus on establishing the exact cause of the fire and determining whether negligence or safety violations played a role in the deadly incident.