Malviya Nagar B&B fire kills 23 owner denied hotel license
India
A tragic fire at a Malviya Nagar bed-and-breakfast killed 23 people earlier this month.
Turns out, the owner, Lavkesh Bajaj, had tried to get a hotel license back in August 2022 but was denied because he didn't have key safety clearances like health, trade, or a fire NOC.
Lavkesh Bajaj arrested, documents seized
Bajaj allegedly broke the rules by adding three extra floors (growing from six to 26 rooms) without proper permissions.
He also listed his accountant as the owner to get around regulations that require owners to live on site.
After the fire, police arrested Bajaj and two employees, and collected all relevant documents linked to the bed and breakfast facility as part of their ongoing investigation.