MCD Official Inspected Malviya Nagar Hotel A Day Before Fire That Killed 23. He Is Now Sacked

Last Updated:June 12, 2026, 10:59 IST

MCD has fired an inspection official who had cleared the Hauz Rani B&B, site of the inferno, a day before the tragedy.

Just a day before an inferno engulfed a bed-and-breakfast (B&B) in Delhi’s Hauz Rani area, a health official had inspected it. Now, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has fired the officer over negligence charges, as per a report published by the Hindustan Times.

The tragedy in South Delhi had claimed the lives of 23 people, several of them foreigners.

The order, dated June 11, as per the report, states that the now-sacked official carried out a ‘superficial’ inspection, ‘wilfully ignored’ discrepancies, and recommended issuing a licence based on a ‘false and misleading’ report.

“On June 2, 2026, you purportedly conducted a field inspection of the said premises, which has been found to have been conducted in a perfunctory and superficial manner. You wilfully ignored the patent discrepancies in the submitted documents and the factual position on the ground with respect to operation of trade in gross violations… You duly recommended the grant of license to the said premises on the basis of false and misleading inspection report… Therefore, the competent authority is of the view that your continuation in this engagement is deemed prejudicial to public interest," said the order, as per report.

Meanwhile, in another order by the MCD, the Deputy Health Officer (DHO) of the South Zone has also been transferred. He has been attached to the MCD headquarters on administrative grounds.

“Dr Sanjay Sinha is hereby transferred from the post of deputy health officer South Zone and attached to the public health department on administrative grounds with immediate effect," the order, as quoted in the report, said.

Chain Of Events

According to media reports, the ground-floor level restaurant Snacks and Bites in the Flourish Stay B&B, where the fire apparently started, only had permission to operate as a tea-and-snacks joint but was operating as a restaurant.

Unnamed officials of the MCD, quoted in the report, said that the premises of the tragedy had been inspected and given the green signal just a day before the fire. Further, the report said, the preliminary investigation has also held the area inspector responsible for delaying the health trade licence application for 78 days after its submission in the month of March this year.

The Delhi Police had found four gas cylinders on the premises on June 4th. However, a tea-and-snacks licence is only issued to small establishments that are supposed to be selling pre-cooked items. Such joints are only permitted to have limited provisions for the warming of food and seating.

How Negligence Lit The Fire

The scale of the negligence involved in the whole thing is borne out by a fact that investigators stated earlier. The B&B was allowed to operate only six rooms. However, at least 25 rooms were being operated from across four floors at the premises. Besides these, there was a basement and a roof, but no fire exit.

Not only did the owner, Lovkesh Bajaj, not have a licence to operate a full-fledged restaurant, but even that license expired on March 31, HT had earlier reported. The place was only supposed to be a tea and snacks outlet that was not supposed to be cooking and providing sitting arrangements. On the day of the fire, hours after it occurred, Bajaj requested a renewal of the permit. It was denied.

News india MCD Official Inspected Malviya Nagar Hotel A Day Before Fire That Killed 23. He Is Now Sacked

Read More