‘Everything works in Delhi’: Hotel owner blames ‘other person’ in Malviya Nagar fire probe

Key points

• Police have arrested Lovkesh Bajaj, the co-owner of Hotel Flourish Stays.
• (With inputs from agencies) NEW DELHI: The hotel in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar where a fire killed at least 21 people on Wednesday was allegedly operating nearly four times beyond its permitted capacity, had no fire safety clearance and was functioning from a building where additional floors were constructed without informing authorities, officials said.Police have arrested Lovkesh Bajaj, the owner of Hotel Flourish Stays, in connection with the blaze that tore through the bed-and-breakfast establishment.Sources said Bajaj told investigators that he did not have time to personally manage or oversee the premises.On the issue of fire safety clearance, Bajaj allegedly told police that any residential building less than 15 metres high does not require a Fire No Objection Certificate under Rule 27 of the Delhi Fire Service Rules, 2010.During interrogation, he is also learnt to have said day-to-day operations...