Delhi Police had filed an FIR in 2024 against Lovkesh Bajaj — owner of the Hauz Rani B&B that caught fire and killed 21 on Wednesday
NEW DELHI: Delhi Police had filed an FIR in 2024 against Lovkesh Bajaj — owner of the Hauz Rani B&B that caught fire and killed 21 on Wednesday — for violating norms and the absence of safety measures like metal detectors and CCTV cameras in the establishment, cops said on Thursday. Sources also said that Delhi Police’s licensing wing had turned down his verification report in 2022-23.
Bajaj, who is on four days’ police remand, told cops that he had handed over the management of the B&B to Mishra and the permission to run the facility was also in Mishra’s name. Police said that electric stoves and other appliances, including an oven, have been recovered and were being examined for faults. Ovens and stoves were provided to guests staying at the hotel for extended periods to cook meals, Bajaj told cops. Granting four days’ custody, judicial magistrate first class Bhanu Pratap Singh underlined the need for custody “to trace, locate and apprehend the persons whose role has surfaced during investigation”. Prosecutor Gaurav Srivastav, citing the grounds of arrest, submitted that the investigation had revealed “negligence and failure to ensure adequate safety measures for occupants of the premises”, and argued that Bajaj could influence witnesses if “left at liberty”. Opposing the remand plea, advocate Nitin Ahlawat cited procedural lapses and argued that custody was unnecessary as Bajaj was a “victim of the incident himself”.
Police have sought details from MCD, BSES and DM on approvals, power connections and inquiry findings related to properties linked to Bajaj.
Besides the angle of LPG leak and short circuit, cops are probing the source of a blast which was reportedly heard before the blaze. Bajaj was produced in court on Thursday where police sought his remand for custodial interrogation.