NEW DELHI: Thirty-one-year-old Sudhanshu Lovneesh, who ran seven PG accommodations in and around Delhi’s Satya Niketan, was among those who rushed to the site after a five-storey PG building came crashing down on Sunday.But when students, many of them Delhi University (DU) students, allegedly began recognising him, he left the spot fearing they would attack him, police said.Sudhanshu, who operated the ‘Hostel Daze’ PG in the collapsed building along with his friend Shubham Tyagi, was later arrested in connection with the case, news agency PTI reported.Police said he told investigators that he had graduated from Delhi University in 2019 and had been running PG accommodations in the Satya Niketan area since 2022.
Sudhanshu, Tyagi took building on lease
According to police, Sudhanshu and Tyagi had taken four floors of the building on lease in August 2025 for a monthly rent of Rs 1.05 lakh and operated the PG under the name Hostel Daze.Police said the two took the property at a comparatively lower rent because of its dilapidated condition.Investigators are probing how many students were staying there, the layout of the PG and the number of rooms in the building.Police are also collecting rent agreements signed by students with the owners and operators to ascertain the accommodation arrangements and conditions imposed on tenants.
Police probe whether PG operator ignored repair work
Police said Sudhanshu remained indifferent to the construction and repair work being carried out at the property despite allegedly knowing that it could affect the structure.The labour contractor carrying out the work, Sanoj Kumar, told police that Mahesh Gupta, son of building owner Hariram Gupta, had hired him around 10 days before the collapse and was paying him Rs 2,800 a day.Kumar, 35, a resident of JJ Camp, Moti Bagh, and originally from Manikpur village in Bihar’s Banka district, was apprehended in Uttar Pradesh’s Kasganj, brought to Delhi and arrested, police said.
Ground-floor wall removed on day of collapse
Police said a wall on the ground floor that was obstructing space intended for a shop was removed on the day of the incident.“On the day of the incident, a wall on the ground floor that was obstructing space meant for a shop was removed. The building could not withstand the load after the wall was removed and ultimately collapsed,” a senior police officer said.Repair work was also underway on the ground floor for an extension allegedly meant for commercial use.The basement, meanwhile, had been undergoing repairs for eight to 10 days, police said.Waste and water had accumulated there after several days of rain, following which three truckloads of debris were allegedly filled into the basement to level it with the ground floor.
PG agreement under police scanner
The rent agreement under which the PG was being operated has also come under scrutiny.According to a purported copy of the agreement, the PG owner stated that he would not be responsible for any “casualties or risk” to tenants.The agreement also purportedly said the hostel would not be liable to compensate tenants for personal injury, loss or damage to belongings caused by circumstances beyond its control, including sealing, fire, earthquake and heavy rain.Parents and guardians were reportedly barred from entering the PG to meet their children.The document also contained clauses on non-refund of hostel fees and security money and empowered the operators to evict tenants for indiscipline, misconduct, non-payment of dues and other violations.
Five arrested, Tyagi absconding
Three accused — Mahesh Gupta, Sanoj Kumar and Sudhanshu Lovneesh — were produced before a court on Wednesday and remanded in police custody for two days.Building owner Hariram Gupta, an 81-year-old retired Indian Air Force sergeant, and his 75-year-old wife Urmila Gupta were earlier sent to 14 days’ judicial custody.Their 52-year-old son Mahesh was remanded to police custody for two days.During questioning, Mahesh told police that he looked after the building’s maintenance on behalf of his parents.Police said they were still searching for Shubham Tyagi, who was absconding. Six people have emerged in the investigation so far, five of whom have been arrested, according to police sources.
Building was decades old, additional floors under probe
According to the FIR, a local inquiry found that the building was 40-50 years old and that additional floors had allegedly been constructed to generate rental income.The structure had a ground floor and four upper floors and housed students and other residents.The collapse around 1pm on Sunday killed seven people — five students and two labourers and injured five others.Police are also examining the role of MCD officials, which is expected to become clearer after the magistrate’s inquiry.Meanwhile, the MCD has launched demolition action at several locations against illegal construction amid increased scrutiny of unauthorised structures following the Satya Niketan tragedy.Police said the investigation into the circumstances leading to the collapse, including the construction and repair work, the building’s condition, the role of the PG operators and possible civic lapses, is continuing.(With agency inputs)
