Delhi hotel fire accused previously arrested for helping Bangladeshis obtain fake Indian IDs

The investigation into the devastating fire at a bed-and-breakfast in Delhi's Malviya Nagar that killed 21 people has brought renewed attention to the past legal troubles of the property's owner, Lavkesh Bajaj. Authorities say Bajaj, who is currently in police custody in connection with the fire tragedy, was previously arrested in a case involving the alleged procurement of fake Indian identity documents for Bangladeshi nationals.

The earlier case emerged in January 2025 after Delhi Police received intelligence about a Bangladeshi family allegedly living in the Paharganj area using forged documents. During a raid, officers recovered multiple identity records, including Bangladeshi and Indian passports, Aadhaar cards and banking documents. Investigators found that several documents carried different names but featured the same photograph, raising suspicions of identity fraud.

Fake documents case linked to Bajaj's address

According to NDTV, during the investigation, police discovered that one of the Indian passports carried a residential address linked to Bajaj. Verification reportedly confirmed that the address belonged to him.

According to police findings, Bajaj allegedly allowed Bangladeshi nationals to use his address for obtaining Indian identity documents in exchange for money. He was arrested along with two women accused in the case and later spent around two weeks in jail before securing bail.

The chargesheet in that matter has already been filed, and the case remains pending before a court.

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Fire tragedy puts owner back under scrutiny

According to NDTV, Bajaj is now facing a separate investigation following the deadly blaze at Flourish Stay, a bed-and-breakfast operating in Delhi's Hauz Rani-Malviya Nagar area. The fire killed 21 people, including several foreign nationals, making it one of the capital's deadliest recent hotel disasters.

Police arrested Bajaj shortly after the incident and secured four days of custody for questioning. Investigators are examining whether negligence, regulatory violations and operational lapses contributed to the scale of the tragedy.

According to reports, Bajaj allegedly admitted during questioning that he drove past the burning building rather than stopping to assist rescue efforts. Police are also investigating whether there was any attempt to evade authorities following the incident.

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Multiple safety violations under investigation

According to NDTV, the probe has revealed a series of alleged safety lapses at the property. Investigators say the establishment was operating without a valid fire No Objection Certificate and had significantly exceeded its approved accommodation capacity.

Records reportedly show that permission was granted for only six guest rooms. However, authorities found that around 25 rooms were being operated, including some in the basement.

Officials have also pointed to structural concerns, including a single entry-and-exit route, sealed windows and sensor-operated doors that may have complicated evacuation efforts during the fire. A suspected electrical short circuit is currently being examined as the likely cause of the blaze.