New Delhi
-Swastika Sruti
No licence, fled after the Malviya Nagar fire tragedy, sheltered Bangladeshis, and more – Lovkesh Bajaj, owner of the Delhi B&B where 21 people died on Wednesday, is alleged to have been helping illegal immigrants stay in the country.
One must know that the police arrested Bajaj hours after the deadly fire occurred. They also arrested him last year for a separate case. He helped three Bangladeshi nationals gain fake Indian identity documents.
Deputy police commissioner Rohit Rajbir Singh shared details on Friday. Bajaj knowingly let the foreign nationals use his home address. This happened in Chhatarpur Enclave. The group obtained passports and Aadhar cards using this address.
Legal history of the owner
Police registered a case against Bajaj in January 2025. It involved cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy. The three Bangladeshi nationals lived illegally in Delhi’s Paharganj. They used the fake documents from Bajaj for their stay.
Officials investigated the group and filed a charge sheet later. The woman and her daughter were taken into custody. Police also filed a report for the minor involved. This case has been moving through the city court.
Fire and licensing issues
The fire at the B&B injured another 21 people. It started in the restaurant kitchen on the ground floor. An investigation shows Bajaj lacked a valid restaurant licence. He only held a tea and snacks outlet permit.
The tea and snacks permit expired on March 31. Bajaj applied to renew it only on Wednesday after the blaze. Officials rejected his request for the licence renewal that day. He clearly had operated without any valid commercial papers.
