Malviya Nagar Fire: Court Orders Ignored, Delhi B&B Violated Several Fire Safety Norms, Find Reports

New Delhi: Nearly five months before the building in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar was gutted in a massive fire that claimed 21 lives on Wednesday (June 3), the Delhi high court had asked Delhi authorities to urgently address concerns around fire safety regulations in hotels, restaurants and other hospitality establishments across the capital city. However, an investigation into the fire at Flourish Stays B&B revealed that it was operating with multiple violations, including unauthorised construction, inadequate fire-proofing and only one entry-exit stairway.

The B&B was operating in Hauz Rani area of Malviya Nagar. According to the police, the hotel was licensed to operate as a six-room establishment but had illegally expanded into a 25-room hotel. The Delhi Police has detained the owner, Luv Kesh Bajaj, after reportedly making attempts to evade authorities.

He also operated two other properties in the area which are now under scrutiny for safety and regulatory violations, according to police.

Among the deceased, there were nine African nationals and two from Turkmenistan. Tens others were Indians. The death toll could rise as several injured were in a critical condition.

Fire-safety violations

The fire at the Malviya Nagar B&B has exposed glaring gaps in Delhi's enforcement of rules and regulations. More than 20 fire incidents have occurred in the national capital in the past five months, killing 89 people.

On January 7, the Delhi high court had directed the Delhi government, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, and the New Delhi Municipal Corporation to devise “with expedition” an action plan to ensure fire safety regulations are in place. However, the counsel associated with the case told The New Indian Express that the authorities concerned were yet to comply with the order.

The petition was filed in the aftermath of the nightclub fire in Goa on December 6, 2025.

According to The Times of India, during interrogation, Flourish B&B’s Bajaj also told police officials 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. He also alleged that structural changes, including the expansion and other modifications, were suggested by another individual who had assured him that such arrangements were “routine” and that “everything works in Delhi”.

Following the fire, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stated that the government has directed a scrutiny into fire safety compliance in establishments all over the city.

New policies don't help

On May 27, the Delhi government proposed a new fire safety framework, as per a Hindustan Times report, under which building owners can obtain fire clearances through private fire auditors – they will be empaneled, said the policy – rather than relying solely on inspections by Delhi Fire Services (DFS). While the government argued this will reduce delays and improve efficiency, experts opined that the push can compromise independence of the mechanism.

Moreover, the government also announced a draft Bed & Breakfast Policy 2026 that will allow residential properties with up to eight rooms and 16 beds to operate as B&B units, with online registration and self-certification. The existing Bed and Breakfast framework of 2007 relied more heavily on inspections and departmental scrutiny before approvals, even though they were also flouted.

“A city where unauthorised floors are routinely added and residential properties converted into commercial without approval requires stronger oversight, not merely easier certification,” Sarika Panda, urban planner and founder Trustee of Raahgiri Foundation, told the daily.

Gaps in fire rescue 

The fire broke out around 8.30 am on Wednesday and locals were the first to act. However, by the time rescue officers arrived, the blaze had spread to multiple floors.

A Newslaundry report from February 2026 had found that as per DFS data out of 90 sanctioned posts for station officers (STOs), 72 were vacant, and of the 172 sanctioned posts for sub-officers, the next in line to STOs, 61 were vacant.

Per recruitment norms, the report stated, half of these posts are meant to be filled through direct recruitment, while the other half are reserved for those promoted within the department. 

The vacancies were even more staggering for lower ranks with 246 of the 422 sanctioned leading firemen posts vacant – rate of 58%. For firemen, of the 2,367 sanctioned posts which are filled through direct recruitment, 320 or 13.5% were vacant.

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