Delhi hotel fire: Cook arrested, claims blaze started in fryer; lawyer cites electrical fault

A cook has been arrested in connection with a devastating fire that claimed 21 lives at a bed-and-breakfast facility in Delhi. The accused, 65-year-old Keshav Negi, was taken into custody after being detained the previous day. His arrest comes as the precise cause of the blaze remains a point of contention.

Negi reportedly told investigators that the fire began when a fryer in the ground-floor kitchen sparked and caught fire around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday. He admitted to fleeing the premises without assisting anyone. However, his legal counsel presented a different account to the Saket court, asserting that the fire originated from an electrical short circuit elsewhere in the building, not the kitchen as police alleged.

The court ordered two days of custody for Negi. Prosecutors argued that Negi, aware of guests staying at the facility, was the first to flee without alerting authorities. A senior police officer indicated that Negi claimed to have called the hotel's manager, Rupesh, after leaving, a claim being verified against call records. Both Rupesh and another manager, Jay Mishra, in whose name the B&B license was issued, are currently absconding.

Negi's arrest follows that of Lovkesh Bajaj, the owner of Flourish Stay. Both face charges including culpable homicide not amounting to murder. However, the arrests have prompted criticism regarding the investigation's focus. Critics question whether the probe adequately addresses systemic failures in fire safety and licensing norms, and the role of those responsible for allowing such lapses, rather than solely targeting individuals like Negi.

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Police have arrested the chef of the B&B but how can he be held responsible for his master’s misdeeds?