As the investigation into the devastating fire at Delhi’s Flourish Stay hotel in Malviya Nagar gathers pace, details of previous criminal cases involving the hotel’s owner, Lavkesh Bajaj, have come under scrutiny. Bajaj, who was arrested by Delhi Police in connection with the fire that claimed 21 lives, had earlier been arrested in a case linked to the alleged procurement of forged Indian identity documents and passports for Bangladeshi nationals.
Authorities have also found records of an earlier case related to violations of mandatory hotel safety regulations.
Police arrested the 60-year-old Bajaj on Wednesday evening as part of the ongoing investigation into the hotel fire tragedy. The incident, one of the deadliest hotel fires reported in the national capital in recent years, has prompted a detailed examination of the hotel’s operations, management practices and compliance with safety norms.
Investigators have now revealed that Bajaj’s name had figured in a major criminal investigation last year. According to police records, an FIR registered at Paharganj police station in January 2025 led to the uncovering of an alleged network involved in supplying forged Indian identity documents and passports to Bangladeshi nationals residing illegally in the country.
The case came to light after police received information on January 29, 2025, that a Bangladeshi family was staying in the Paharganj area using fake Indian documents.
Acting on the tip-off, police conducted a raid on a residence and found two women and a minor boy. During questioning, they were unable to produce valid Indian identity documents.
A search of the premises led to the recovery of two Bangladeshi passports, an Indian passport, Aadhaar cards and several banking-related documents.
Investigators reportedly found discrepancies in the identities reflected in the documents. Police claimed that photographs appearing on multiple passports and identity cards seemed to belong to the same individual despite the documents carrying different names and addresses.
During the subsequent investigation, Bajaj’s alleged role in facilitating forged documents came under the scanner. Police arrested him on charges related to fraud, forgery and the procurement of fake identity documents.
Following his arrest, he was lodged in Tihar Jail and remained there for around 15 days before securing bail from a court. The matter remains pending before the judiciary and is yet to reach a final conclusion.
Apart from the fake passport case, police records also indicate that an FIR was registered against Bajaj in 2024 for alleged violations of mandatory hotel operating norms.
The case reportedly stemmed from non-compliance with regulations requiring the installation and maintenance of CCTV cameras in guesthouses and hotels.
The irregularities were allegedly detected during a routine inspection conducted by Delhi Police.
Meanwhile, investigators probing the Malviya Nagar hotel fire are continuing to question Bajaj regarding the functioning of the establishment and compliance with safety measures.
Police are also searching for the hotel’s accountant, Jai Mishra, and manager, Rakesh, both of whom are yet to be traced. Mishra, a resident of Chhatarpur, has reportedly been absconding since the fire incident. Authorities are further collecting information about other staff members and examining operational records of the hotel.
With Bajaj’s past legal troubles now under focus and multiple investigations converging on the hotel’s management, police are expected to widen their probe to determine whether lapses in compliance, supervision or administration contributed to the tragedy.
Additional arrests and legal action may follow as investigators continue to piece together the circumstances surrounding the fire and the hotel’s overall operations.
Source: India Today