The owner of the illegal Delhi guesthouse where 21 people died in a fire was previously arrested
June 5, 2026: The owner of the illegal Delhi bed-and-breakfast (B&B) where a devastating fire claimed 21 lives was previously arrested in a separate case involving alleged identity fraud. According to Delhi Police, Lovkesh Bajaj was arrested in 2025 for allegedly helping a Bangladeshi woman, her daughter, and her minor grandson obtain Indian identity documents by allowing them to use his residential address in Chhatarpur Enclave. Authorities said the trio illegally acquired Aadhaar cards and passports using the address.
Police officials stated that an investigation revealed the Bangladeshi nationals were residing illegally in Delhi’s Paharganj area while using fraudulently obtained Indian documents. One of them reportedly secured an Indian passport using Bajaj’s address. A case of cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy was registered, leading to Bajaj’s arrest. After the investigation was completed, a charge sheet was filed against the accused, while legal proceedings were initiated separately in the case involving the minor.
Bajaj was arrested again on Wednesday, hours after a massive fire broke out at his guesthouse, killing 21 people and injuring 21 others. Investigators said the blaze started in a restaurant kitchen operating on the ground floor. Subsequent inquiries revealed that Bajaj did not possess a valid restaurant licence and only held a tea-and-snacks permit that had expired on March 31. Authorities further disclosed that he attempted to renew the licence on the day of the fire, but the application was rejected.