New Delhi, 16 September (H.S.): The Delhi High Court, while hearing a bail plea filed on medical grounds by hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj in connection with the Malviya Nagar hotel fire case, has sought his medical report. The High Court will hear the bail plea next on September 21.

Lavkesh Bajaj has sought bail citing his deteriorating health. During the hearing, the court was informed that Bajaj had been admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital for surgery. He was subsequently discharged and sent back to jail. Following the submissions, the court directed that his medical records be produced.

The court has taken cognisance of the chargesheet filed by the Delhi Police in the case. Judicial Magistrate First Class Bhanu Pratap Singh took cognisance of the chargesheet filed against the three accused and directed all three to appear before the court on September 17.

On September 3, the Saket Court had taken cognisance of the chargesheet filed against Lavkesh Bajaj, hotel manager Jai Mishra and cook Kesar Negi. Bajaj and Mishra are currently in judicial custody, while Kesar Negi was granted bail on July 27. The Delhi Police filed the chargesheet in the case on September 1.

The Delhi Police has charged the accused under Sections 105, 326(g), 324(5), 125 and 287 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The police arrested Lavkesh Bajaj on June 4 and Kesar Negi on June 6. Jai Mishra surrendered before the court on June 8.

According to the police, Kesar Negi was cooking on an electric stove when it exploded. Following the blast, Negi switched off the power supply, causing the hotel’s electronic doors to lock and leaving several people trapped inside. The hotel had two rooms and only one exit. Its windows had been permanently sealed, while the main entrance was operated by a sensor.

A massive fire broke out at the hotel in Malviya Nagar at around 8 a.m. on June 3. Twenty-two people trapped in the basement died after being engulfed by smoke and flames, while several others were injured.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar