Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has sought a fair investigation into the arrest of Keshav Negi in the Malviya Nagar fire case
June 7, 2026: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday said he spoke with Rekha Gupta regarding the arrest of Keshav Negi, a cook from Uttarakhand who was taken into custody in connection with the deadly fire at a bed-and-breakfast facility in Malviya Nagar, Delhi. Dhami said he requested a fair and impartial investigation into the case. According to him, Gupta assured that no innocent person would face injustice and that the probe would be based solely on facts and evidence. The chief minister also spoke with Negi’s daughter and assured the family of all possible assistance from the Uttarakhand government.
The fire, which claimed 21 lives, has triggered a political debate over accountability. Senior Congress leader Harish Rawat questioned the arrest of the 65-year-old cook, arguing that those responsible for safety lapses at the establishment should be held accountable. Rawat alleged that blaming a cook raises serious concerns about the direction of the investigation and suggested that influential individuals could be escaping scrutiny.
Delhi Police arrested Negi on Saturday, a day after the detention of Flourish Stay owner Lovkesh Bajaj. Police said Negi informed investigators that he noticed a spark in a fryer while working in the kitchen before the fire broke out. However, his legal counsel argued in court that the blaze was caused by an electrical short circuit elsewhere in the building. Both Negi and Bajaj have been booked under charges including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, negligent acts endangering human life, and mischief by fire as the investigation continues.