NEW DELHI: A close aide of the owner of the south Delhi hotel where a recent fire claimed more than 20 lives surrendered before a court on Monday and was remanded to two days of police custody.
Jay Mishra, a close associate and accountant of hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj, also an accused in the case, surrendered before the Judicial Magistrate Bhanu Pratap Singh, and was formally arrested by the Delhi police.
The police, while seeking the custody of the hotel owner last week, had told the court that his interrogation was needed to trace, locate and apprehend Mishra, as well as Rakesh, the hotel manager, in the case.
Police had claimed that their roles had come under scrutiny in the preliminary probe. The police on Monday told the court that key hotel documents were in the name of Mishra.
It claimed that Mishra has known Bajaj for nearly a decade and worked as a frontman for several of his business interests and also handled financial and accounting matters.
“He played a key role in the day-to-day functioning of the hotel and is examining the extent of his involvement in its management, licensing, finances and operational decisions,” police said.
Police claimed that Mishra was booked in 2024 too in connection with the absence of a security apparatus in the hotel. The FIR was registered under section 223 (causes danger to human life, health, or safety) of the BNS.
It claimed that police teams were formed to conduct raids in UP and Bihar to trace him. Police had earlier questioned hotel owner Bajaj, who was sent to judicial custody on Monday, regarding the property’s ownership structure, finances, safety compliance and operational practices. During questioning, Bajaj disclosed that he had delegated the hotel’s operations to Mishra, police claimed.
Also in court
No bail to chef
A city court on Monday denied bail to Keshav Negi, a chef arrested in the Malviya Nagar hotel fire. Judicial Magistrate Bhanu Pratap denied relief to the accused, saying that the stage was not right to enlarge him on bail. “Negi could flee from justice, hamper evidence and influence the witnesses in the case,” said the court. Negi moved bail plea after he had been sent to 14-day judicial custody.
