Fire-hit Delhi hotel owner helped Bangladeshis obtain fake Indian documents

Lavkesh Bajaj, the proprietor of New Delhi’s Flourish Stay bed-and-breakfast, where a devastating fire claimed 21 lives, reportedly has a history of legal troubles.

The 60-year-old was previously arrested by Delhi Police in 2025 for allegedly helping Bangladeshi nationals obtain forged Indian documents, including passports and Aadhaar cards, enabling them to illegally stay in the national capital, NDTV said.

According to the Indian broadcaster, the case began on Jan 29, 2025, after police received information that a Bangladeshi family was living in Delhi’s Paharganj using fraudulent identity papers.

Officers conducted a raid and discovered a woman renting with her daughter and minor grandson.

The women were identified as Sweety Sarkar alias Beauty Hawladar alias Johra Khatoon and her daughter Pushpo Sarkar alias Pushpo Hawladar alias Pushpo Saiyada Akther, neither of whom could produce valid identification documents, according to NDTV.

During a search of the property, Delhi Police seized two Bangladeshi passports, one Indian passport, several Aadhaar cards, and banking-related paperwork.

NDTV said the photo on all three passports and Aadhaar cards appeared to belong to the same woman, despite carrying different names and addresses.

The forged Indian passport allegedly used by Sweety listed an address in Chattarpur Enclave, the verification of which revealed that it belonged to Lavkesh, a resident of South Delhi’s Saket.

During questioning, he admitted to allowing Sarkar and her family to use his residential address to obtain Indian identity documents in exchange for money, NDTV reported.

Police subsequently arrested Lavkesh, Sweety, and Pushpo, and later filed a chargesheet against all three.

A separate police report was also submitted concerning the minor child for legal action under relevant provisions.

As reported by NDTV, Lavkesh was sent to Tihar Jail, where he spent around 15 days before being granted bail. The case remains pending before the court.

Bajaj has once again come under police scrutiny after a fire broke out at his BnB Flourish Stay in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar, killing 21 people, including 12 foreign nationals.

He was arrested hours after the blaze engulfed the five-storey building and is currently in four-day police custody.

NDTV reported that during questioning on Wednesday night, Lavkesh admitted he drove past the burning hotel instead of stopping to assist those trapped inside, later allegedly leaving the area out of fear and continued driving around the city.

Authorities suspected he might attempt to flee the country because both of his children live abroad.

Delhi Police began the process of issuing a lookout circular (LOC) against him and his wife.

A short circuit is believed to have sparked the blaze, which rapidly spread through the building, NDTV reported, citing sources, amid speculation that a cylinder explosion may have been responsible.

The hotel was reportedly operating without a fire no-objection certificate (NOC).

According to registration documents, Flourish Stay was authorised to operate only six rooms under the BnB category. However, 25 rooms were allegedly functioning at the property, including several in the basement.

The primary investigation revealed that the building had just one entry and exit point, severely complicating evacuation efforts. Investigators also discovered that the windows were sealed shut and the main entrance operated through sensors.