Delhi police arrested Lovkesh Bajaj, a co-owner of Hotel Flourish Stays, after a fire at the Malviya Nagar property killed 21 people [1].

The arrest highlights systemic failures in urban building safety and the risks of operating commercial lodging without proper licensing or oversight.

A court placed Bajaj in a four-day police remand [2]. Investigators discovered the hotel was operating far beyond its legal limits, with 28 beds found on the premises despite the space having a permitted capacity of only six rooms [2].

Officials said that the hotel lacked a required fire-safety license. A Delhi Police spokesperson said, "The roof exit was blocked and cooking heaters were being used in guest rooms" [3]. These violations restricted escape routes and increased the risk of ignition during the blaze.

During questioning, Bajaj said that such lapses are common in the city. "Everything works in Delhi," Bajaj said [2].

The probe is now focusing on the blocked roof exit and the presence of unauthorized heaters in guest rooms [3]. Investigators are also examining an ownership tangle related to the property to determine full liability for the civic and building-norm violations [3].

“"Everything works in Delhi."”

The tragedy underscores a critical gap between municipal building codes and actual enforcement in Delhi's densely populated neighborhoods. The disparity between the permitted six-room capacity and the actual 28-bed operation suggests a pattern of unregulated expansion that bypasses essential life-safety infrastructure, such as clear emergency exits and fire certifications.