Saket Court Grants Police Custody in Malviya Nagar Fire Tragedy Case

The Saket court has granted police custody for Keshav Negi and Lovkesh Bajaj in relation to the Malviya Nagar fire tragedy. The fire, which occurred at the Flourish Stays Hotel, claimed 21 lives and injured 28. The court deemed custodial interrogation necessary to further investigate the incident.

The Saket court on Saturday authorized a two-day police custody for hotel cook Keshav Negi following his arrest in connection to the Malviya Nagar fire tragedy. Meanwhile, Lovkesh Bajaj, owner of Flourish Stays Hotel, remains in police custody regarding the inferno that resulted in 21 fatalities and 28 injuries, including among foreign nationals. Delhi Police presented Negi to Judicial Magistrate First Class Bhanu Pratap Singh post-arrest.

In court, the Delhi police advocated for Negi's remand to facilitate a deeper investigation into the incident. Conflicting narratives emerged with the police attributing the fire to a cooking gas leak, while defense attorneys Mrityunjay Kumar Singh and Rahul Aggarwal suggested an electric short circuit sparked the blaze. Meanwhile, Bajaj faces charges under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including for culpable homicide.

Citing serious allegations, the court validated Bajaj's arrest, considering the life-imprisonment severity of potential charges. Police requested extended custodial time to scrutinize hotel records, trace key personnel, and gather digital evidence. The judiciary concurred, emphasizing the necessity of ongoing custodial interrogation to uncover procedural lapses and missing documentation.