Delhi police arrested hotel building owner Lavkesh Bajaj on Wednesday after a fire at the Flourish Stay B&B killed 21 people [1, 3].

The incident highlights severe lapses in urban safety regulations and the risks faced by international travelers staying in unregulated accommodations in India's capital.

The fire broke out Wednesday in the Hauz Rani area of Malviya Nagar in South Delhi [1, 5]. Of the 21 victims, 18 were foreign nationals [2]. The scale of the tragedy has drawn intense scrutiny toward the building's safety protocols and legal standing.

Investigators found that the building did not have a fire No-Objection Certificate (NOC) [4]. This certificate is a mandatory safety clearance required for commercial buildings to ensure they meet fire safety standards before operating.

Police said they had already issued a lookout circular against Bajaj and his wife prior to the arrest [1]. This measure is typically used to prevent suspects from leaving the country while an investigation is ongoing.

Bajaj is the owner of the Flourish Stay B&B [1]. While he has been detained, reports indicate he said that another party was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the facility [4]. The police are continuing to investigate the exact cause of the blaze and the extent of the negligence involved in the building's management.

“18 of the 21 victims were foreign nationals”

This event underscores a systemic failure in the enforcement of fire safety codes within Delhi's hospitality sector. The absence of a mandatory NOC suggests that the property was operating illegally or in violation of municipal laws, which directly contributed to the high death toll. The high number of foreign casualties may also lead to diplomatic pressure on Indian authorities to tighten oversight of budget hotels and B&Bs to protect tourists.