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Delhi Police detained Keshav Negi on Saturday and questioned him for around six hours before making the arrest.
Keshav Negi, the cook at the Flourish Stay B&B where the fire broke out, has been arrested. (Image: PTI; ANI)
Delhi Police on Saturday arrested the cook of the Malviya Nagar hotel where a massive fire killed 21 people on Wednesday, including 13 foreign nationals.
Investigators have concluded that the blaze was caused by the cook’s negligence. The arrested man, identified as Keshav Negi, made a significant disclosure during questioning about the sequence of events that led to the tragedy.
Police detained Negi on Saturday and questioned him for around six hours before making the arrest.
‘Electric stove exploded’
According to police sources, Negi told investigators that the fire started shortly after he switched on an electric stove in the kitchen on Wednesday morning.
During interrogation, he claimed that the stove exploded, causing flames to spread rapidly through the building.
Negi said that he panicked as smoke and fire engulfed the premises. The investigation found that amid the chaos, Negi switched off the bed-and-breakfast establishment’s main power supply before fleeing the scene. Police are now examining the consequences of that decision.
Investigators suspect that cutting the main power supply caused the building’s electronic door locking system to stop functioning. As a result, several guests inside the property may have become trapped and were unable to escape the smoke and flames.
Electronic locks under scrutiny
According to investigators, the failure of the electronic locking system may have blocked key exit routes inside the building.
Police believe this could have prevented the rescue of several occupants during the fire. The role of the locking system and the impact of the power shutdown have become important aspects of the ongoing investigation.
Officials are trying to determine whether the deactivation of the system contributed to the high number of casualties.
Probe continues
The Malviya Nagar fire claimed 21 lives, including those of 13 foreign nationals, and has triggered a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Police are continuing to examine the chain of events that unfolded after the fire broke out. Investigators are also assessing the extent to which negligence may have contributed to the tragedy.
About the Author
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influen…Read More
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