Malviya Nagar hotel fire: Owner's aide and key accused accountant Jay Mishra surrenders before court

NEW DELHI: Jay Mishra, a key accused in Malviya Nagar hotel fire that claimed 22 lives, surrendered before a court on Monday, an official said.Mishra, a close associate and accountant of hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj, is also named in an FIR registered in 2024 under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (acts causing danger to human life, health or safety), police said. The case pertains to the alleged absence of adequate security arrangements at the hotel.According to news agency PTI, Mishra had been on the radar of investigators since the fire at Flourish Stays Bed and Breakfast in the Hauz Rani area of Malviya Nagar on June 4.Multiple police teams had been carrying out raids in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to trace him.According to police sources, Mishra has known Bajaj for nearly a decade and worked as a frontman for several of his business interests, while also handling financial and accounting responsibilities.Investigators believe he played a key role in the day-to-day functioning of the hotel and are examining the extent of his involvement in its management, licensing, finances, and operational decisions.The development comes as Delhi Police continues to widen its probe into the tragedy, one of the deadliest hotel fires in the capital in recent years.Police had earlier questioned hotel owner Bajaj, who is currently in custody, regarding the property's ownership structure, finances, safety compliance, and operational practices.During questioning, Bajaj allegedly told investigators that he had delegated the hotel’s operations to Mishra.Locked terrace, single exit, no fire systems: Lapses exposed in Delhi hotel fire caseAn initial probe revealed serious violations at the establishment. Illegal construction, a locked terrace, absence of fire safety systems, a single entry and exit point, and lack of basic firefighting arrangements were reported.The building, Flourish Stay Bed and Breakfast, was licensed to operate as a six-room property but had reportedly expanded into a 25-room hotel. Its B&B licence was valid till 2027.Senior fire officials also found that the premises lacked essential fire safety measures such as smoke detectors, automated fire alarms, and sprinkler systems, and had no fire safety No Objection Certificate (NOC).(With agency inputs)