NEW DELHI: The probe into the Malviya Nagar hotel fire that killed 21 people has widened, Delhi Police on Thursday found a blocked roof exit and cooking heaters being used in several guest rooms, according to news agency PTI.Police have formed five teams to trace and arrest hotel manager Jai Mishra, who remains absconding.Investigators are examining multiple aspects of the incident, including possible violations of building rules, fire safety lapses, illegal construction, ownership details of the bed-and-breakfast property and other factors that may have led to the high death toll.Accrding to police said locals, shopkeepers, hotel staff and witnesses are being questioned to understand the sequence of events.Police have also issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj and his wife amid concerns they may try to leave the country.Bajaj reportedly told police during questioning that he had handed over the management of the hotel to Mishra and that the licence for the property was in Mishra’s name. However, police sources said Bajaj is believed to be the actual owner, while the B&B licence was registered in Mishra’s name.Investigators said the blocked access to the roof may have prevented occupants from escaping through an alternative route as thick smoke filled the five-storey building. The presence of cooking heaters in several rooms, including those occupied by foreign nationals, is also being examined.The fire broke out on Wednesday morning at Flourish Stay Bed & Breakfast in Hauz Rani, Malviya Nagar, killing 21 people, including several foreign nationals, and injuring many others.A team from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) is expected to revisit the site for a detailed examination to determine the exact cause of the blaze.Police are also searching for an eyewitness, Kesar Singh, whose statement is considered important in establishing how the fire started and spread.Investigators have further found alleged violations in the property’s expansion and operation. According to officials, the building was bought by Bajaj in 2022 from a person identified as Ahluwalia. It originally had two-and-a-half floors, but additional floors were later constructed, taking it to around five storeys.Police believe Bajaj had the option to leave the country as his children live abroad. A Look Out Circular has been issued against him and his wife as a precaution.Sources said the property was initially used for renting rooms and later obtained permission for a tea shop before being converted into a bed-and-breakfast. Over time, it expanded far beyond its permitted use.Investigators added that while Bajaj was the real owner, the B&B licence was issued in the name of Jai Mishra, who was handling daily operations, accounts and management after joining in 2022. Before that, Mishra worked as an accountant in Malviya Nagar.Officials said the establishment was approved for six rooms under the Delhi government’s B&B policy but was allegedly operating around 25 rooms, including some in the basement.The building did not have mandatory fire safety clearance, despite allegedly exceeding the height limit that requires a No Objection Certificate from the Delhi Fire Service.The ground floor housed a restaurant, while the basement and upper floors were used for guest accommodation.Investigators are also looking into claims that sealed windows, a single entry-exit point and a sensor-operated main door made evacuation difficult.Police have arrested hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj and booked him under charges including culpable homicide. The case includes sections related to negligence, fire-related damage and endangering human life under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.Authorities said the bodies of foreign nationals will be handed over to their families and embassies after DNA testing and completion of legal formalities. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
