FLourish Stay Fire Owner's Criminal Past Resurfaces After Delhi Tragedy Kills 21

The earlier case dates back to January 29, 2025, when Delhi Police received intelligence that a Bangladeshi family was residing in the Paharganj area of Central Delhi using forged documents. Acting on the information, police conducted a raid at a rented residence and found a woman living there along with her daughter and minor grandson.

The women were identified as Sweety Sarkar, also known as Beauty Hawladar and Johra Khatoon, and her daughter Pushpo Sarkar, also known as Pushpo Hawladar and Pushpo Saiyada Akther. During questioning, both failed to produce valid identity documents. A subsequent search led to the recovery of two Bangladeshi passports, one Indian passport, multiple Aadhaar cards, and banking-related documents.

Investigators found that the photograph on all three passports appeared to belong to the same woman. The recovered Aadhaar cards carried different names and addresses but displayed the same photograph. Further investigation revealed that the fake Indian passport allegedly used by Sweety Sarkar carried an address in Chattarpur Enclave.

Verification of the address led police to Lavkesh Bajaj, a resident of Saket in South Delhi. During questioning, Bajaj admitted that he had allowed Sarkar and her family to use his residential address for obtaining Indian identity documents in exchange for money.

Delhi Police subsequently arrested Lavkesh Bajaj, Sweety Sarkar, and Pushpo Sarkar. A chargesheet was filed against all three accused, while a separate Police Information Report was submitted concerning the minor child for legal action under applicable provisions. Bajaj was lodged in Tihar Jail and remained there for approximately 15 days before securing bail. The case is still pending before a court.

Bajaj has once again come under police scrutiny following the deadly fire at Flourish Stay in Delhi's Malviya Nagar. The blaze engulfed the five-storey building and resulted in the deaths of 21 people. He was arrested hours after the incident and is currently in four-day police custody.

During interrogation on Wednesday night, Bajaj reportedly admitted that he drove past the burning property instead of stopping to assist guests trapped inside. According to investigators, he left the area out of fear and continued driving around the city while the tragedy unfolded.

Police also suspected that Bajaj might attempt to leave the country, particularly as both of his children are settled abroad. As a result, authorities initiated the process of issuing a lookout circular against Bajaj and his wife.

The investigation into the cause of the fire has uncovered a series of serious safety violations. Sources indicated that the blaze was caused by a short circuit, although earlier speculation suggested it may have been triggered by a cylinder explosion. Authorities confirmed that the establishment was operating without a mandatory fire no-objection certificate.

Documents accessed during the investigation revealed that Flourish Stay had official permission to operate only six rooms under the bed-and-breakfast category, with three rooms each on the first and second floors. However, investigators found that 25 rooms were functioning at the property, including several located in the basement.

The preliminary inquiry further revealed that the building had only a single entry and exit point, significantly hindering evacuation efforts during the emergency. Investigators also found that the windows had been sealed and the main entrance was operated by a sensor system, creating additional obstacles for guests attempting to escape.

The tragedy has intensified scrutiny of regulatory compliance and safety enforcement in Delhi's hospitality sector. As investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding the fire, the case has drawn attention not only to alleged fire safety failures but also to the criminal allegations that had previously placed the owner under law-enforcement investigation.