Delhi police filed a culpable homicide first information report after a restaurant fire killed at least 21 people on Wednesday [1].

The incident underscores critical safety failures in urban commercial spaces and the potential for criminal negligence in the enforcement of fire codes.

The blaze broke out at the Lemon Green Restaurant in Malviya Nagar, South Delhi, around 9:45 a.m. on June 3, 2026 [3, 4]. Emergency responders worked to evacuate the building, eventually rescuing more than 40 people from the scene [2].

Investigators said a gas-cylinder blast may have ignited the fire [5]. However, the probe is also examining systemic safety lapses, as witnesses highlighted a lack of ventilation, and other hazardous conditions within the establishment [6].

Authorities have shifted the investigation toward criminal liability. The filing of a culpable homicide FIR indicates that police are treating the deaths not as a mere accident, but as a result of negligence that caused death [1].

Firefighters battled the blaze throughout the morning to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent structures in the densely populated Malviya Nagar area [1, 4]. The death toll of 21 represents one of the more severe eatery fires in the region's recent history [1].

“Delhi police filed a culpable homicide first information report after a restaurant fire killed at least 21 people”

The transition from a standard fire investigation to a culpable homicide case suggests that investigators found evidence of gross negligence. By focusing on both the immediate cause—the suspected cylinder blast—and the contributing factors like poor ventilation, authorities are targeting the failure to maintain basic safety standards in high-traffic commercial zones.