New Delhi, June 8: In the Malviya Nagar fire incident, hotel owner Lovkesh Bajaj and chef Keshav Negi were presented in Saket Court on Monday. Following the end of their police remand, the court extended Lovkesh Bajaj’s remand by two more days, while chef Keshav Negi was sent to 14 days of judicial custody.
Earlier, the Delhi Police arrested chef Keshav Negi on June 6, revealing that negligence on his part contributed to the fire. Investigators found multiple violations of safety regulations and significant deficiencies in the building’s fire safety infrastructure.
In addition to Lovkesh Bajaj, other accused individuals, Sweety Sarkar and Pushpo Sarkar, have also been arrested in connection with the case.
The tragic incident resulted in the deaths of at least 22 people, including nine Indians and 13 foreign nationals from Bangladesh, Liberia, Nigeria, and Mozambique. A total of 47 individuals were safely evacuated from the building.
According to a statement from Max Hospital in Saket, 14 patients are currently admitted, with 13 being foreign nationals. All patients on ventilators are stable and showing signs of improvement.
The Delhi Fire Service reported that flames engulfed the building’s basement, ground floor, and five upper floors, causing significant damage due to heat and smoke. Sources from the Delhi Police indicated that a short circuit in the restaurant was the cause of the fire, and there was no evidence of any LPG cylinder explosion during the incident.