Karol Bagh fire tragedy: Delhi Police arrests owner of hotel, to be produced before court

In a major development in the tragic fire incident that took place in a hotel in Karol Bagh area in which 17 people lost their lives, the Delhi Police Crime Branch on Sunday arrested the owner of the hotel. DCP of Delhi police, Rajesh further told reporters that the arrested owner will be produced before the court later on Sunday for further questioning in the probe. 

The Delhi police had received information that the owner of the Arpit Hotel, identified as Rakesh Geel was travelling from Qatar by Indigo flight 6E 1702. The Immigration officials had been alerted as his look-out circulars (Loc) had already been opened and on his arrival in Delhi, he was detained and handed over to the Crime Branch.

READ: 17 People Killed, Several Injured In Fire At Hotel In Delhi's Karol Bagh Area, CM Arvind Kejriwal Announces Rs 5 Lakh Aid To Victims' Families

On Tuesday, 17 people, including a child, lost their lives and 11 others injured in the massive fire that broke out in five-storey Arpit Hotel in central Delhi's Karol Bagh area. In the aftermath, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal had announced ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the family of the victims of the fire. He added that an enquiry will be conducted to determine hotels that violate norms.

 The Delhi government on Saturday cancelled the fire safety licences of 30 other hotels in the area for various code violations.

Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain informed that in aftermath of the Karol Bagh fire incident, 45 hotels have been inspected by fire department officials in the area in the last two days and 30 of the hotels were found to be in violation of the rules. Seeing this, the safety certificates of hotels in violation were cancelled. 

READ: Karol Bagh Hotel Fire: Delhi Government Cancels Fire Safety Licences Of 30 Hotels For Violating Security Norms