Delhi Hotel Fire Probe Deepens; Cook Arrested as Death Toll Stands at 21

New Delhi, June 2026: Delhi Police on Saturday arrested the cook employed at the hotel where a devastating fire in Malviya Nagar claimed 21 lives and left several others injured, as investigators intensified efforts to determine the exact cause of one of the Capital’s deadliest recent fire tragedies.

According to police officials, the latest arrest follows preliminary findings suggesting that the blaze may have been triggered due to negligence on the part of the hotel’s kitchen staff. The accused has been identified as Keshav Negi (65), a resident of Dilshad Garden in Delhi. Investigators said evidence gathered during the probe pointed towards lapses linked to kitchen operations, leading to his arrest.

Police sources said several other individuals have also been detained and are being questioned as authorities continue to examine all aspects of the incident, including safety protocols, operational procedures and management responsibilities at the hotel.

The development comes just days after a massive fire engulfed the multi-storey Flourish Stay B&B in the Malviya Nagar area, resulting in the deaths of 21 people and injuries to many others. The tragedy sparked widespread concern over fire safety compliance in commercial establishments across the city.

Earlier, on Thursday, hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj was remanded to four days of police custody after being arrested following an extensive search operation conducted by Delhi Police. Investigators had carried out multiple raids across the national capital before apprehending him and presenting him before a Delhi court.

During court proceedings, Bajaj’s counsel argued that the defence had not been provided a copy of the First Information Report (FIR). Police assured the court that the document would be supplied in accordance with legal procedures.

Seeking custodial interrogation of the hotel owner, investigators told the court that they required further information regarding the hotel’s workforce and management structure. Police stated that details of only two staff members had been made available so far and that access to operational records, employment documents and other materials was necessary for the investigation.

The defence maintained that Bajaj’s arrest was based solely on his ownership of the property and argued that police needed to establish clear grounds linking him to the alleged violations.

Delhi Police informed the court that the scale of the fire and extensive damage at the site had complicated forensic examinations. Officials said forensic teams were continuing their work to gather evidence and reconstruct the sequence of events that led to the disaster.

Meanwhile, hospitals treating the injured reported encouraging signs of recovery. According to an official medical bulletin, 15 patients remain under treatment, including 13 foreign nationals. Six patients are on ventilator support but are reported to be stable and showing improvement.

The bulletin further stated that nine patients are currently admitted to intensive care and general wards, with all of them in stable condition. Two injured international patients who had been transferred from another hospital were discharged earlier this week after responding well to treatment.

Medical authorities said continuous monitoring and comprehensive care are being provided to all admitted patients as recovery efforts continue.