Delhi Fire Triggers Multi-Agency Crackdown

New Delhi: The deadly Malviya Nagar tragedy, which claimed 21 lives and injured several others, has snowballed into a multi-agency crackdown, exposing "regulatory violations and triggering demolitions across South Delhi.

While the police pieced together the circumstances that led to one of Delhi's deadliest hotel fires in recent years, Delhi home minister Ashish Sood on Friday said it will recover losses from officials found guilty of corruption and will invoke the Delhi Disaster Management Act (DDMA) 2005.

The decision to invoke the Delhi Disaster Management Act 2005 was taken at a meeting held by chief minister Rekha Gupta with several departments. "The Delhi government is to invoke the DDMA Act to enforce a two-year jail term on violations of orders and take action against officers for their complicity. Under this act, there are provisions to recover losses from officers' salary, pension, and even their properties," Sood said.

“Directions have already been given to district magistrates (DMs) to identify violations in buildings. To stop unauthorised construction in the city, any building above ground plus four floors will be sealed immediately," Sood said, adding the CM has directed the DMs to submit daily reports on the removal of illegal construction in the city.

Meanwhile, the Delhi police on Friday launched an intensive search for Jay Mishra, believed to be associated with the operation and management of Flourish Stays B&B, where the blaze broke out on Wednesday morning.

While multiple police teams have been deployed across Delhi and in neighbouring states, technical surveillance is being used to trace Mishra, who is absconding, officials said. Investigators are also looking for hotel employees, workers, accountants and managers linked to the establishment in an effort to reconstruct the sequence of events that lead to the disaster.

Also, the probe has widened beyond the fire itself and now encompasses the building's structural layout, compliance with safety norms, emergency exits, occupancy levels and management practices. Statements of the survivors, eyewitnesses and persons connected with the hotel have already been recorded.

The investigation has also brought renewed scrutiny on hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj, who is currently in police custody. Police records show that Bajaj had previously been arrested in January 2025 in a case related to the alleged facilitation of illegal stays of Bangladeshi nationals in Delhi through fraudulently obtained Indian identity documents.

According to investigators, the case stemmed from the discovery of a woman and her family allegedly residing in Paharganj using Indian passports and Aadhaar cards procured through fraudulent means. During the investigation, the police found that an address linked to Bajaj's property in Chattarpur Enclave had allegedly been used for obtaining the documents.

The police officials claim that Bajaj, during his questioning, admitted that he knowingly allowed his address to be used in exchange for money. A chargesheet was subsequently filed against him and two other accused in the case.

As the criminal investigation gathers momentum, authorities have launched a sweeping enforcement drive across South Delhi. On Friday, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) began demolishing and sealing unauthorised structures in several neighbourhoods, including in Sultanpur, Khanpur, Chirag Delhi and parts of Malviya Nagar.

According to officials, more than 40 properties in Saidulajab have been identified for sealing over violations of building bylaws, while at least 12 bed-and-breakfast (B&B) establishments in Hauz Rani and Malviya Nagar have come under scrutiny.

Commercial establishments in Hauz Khas Village, Saidulajab and surrounding areas are also being inspected as civic authorities seek to identify buildings operating in violation of licence conditions and safety norms.

The crackdown follows preliminary findings that have emerged from the police investigation. Officials probing the Flourish Stays B&B fire have already indicated that the roof exit of the building was allegedly blocked and that cooking heaters were being used in multiple guest rooms, raising serious questions about fire safety compliance.

In a statement, Max Hospital, Saket, said that six patients remain on ventilator support but are stable and showing improvement. Hospital authorities said all six are foreign nationals. A total of 15 patients continue to be admitted at the facility, including 13 international patients, while two others who had been shifted from another hospital were discharged on Thursday evening. Doctors said all admitted patients are recovering and continue to receive intensive medical care and monitoring.

Beyond the police investigation and civic action, the tragedy has also left a visible economic impact on Hauz Rani, a neighbourhood that has evolved into a hub for patients and attendants visiting nearby hospitals.

With several guest houses and hotels sealed or vacated following the fire, dozens of small businesses that rely on hotel guests have seen their livelihoods abruptly disrupted. Restaurant owners, grocery shopkeepers, laundry operators and travel service providers say business has nearly collapsed over the last two days.

According to local traders, many workers are worried about losing wages if hotels remain closed for an extended period, while some have already left for their native villages.