Malviya Nagar hotel fire: Owner's close aide, accountant Jay Mishra, surrenders to court

Jay Mishra, the key accused in the south Delhi hotel fire that killed 22 people, surrendered before the court on Monday, an official said, as reported by PTI.

Mishra, a close associate and accountant of hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj, also has an FIR registered against him in 2024 under Section 223 (Causing danger to human life, health or safety) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, police said.

The FIR was in connection with the absence of security equipment in the hotel.

Mishra has been on the radar of investigators since the fire at Flourish Stays Bed and Breakfast in Hauz Rani area of Malviya Nagar on June 4.

Several police teams were conducting raids in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to trace him.

According to police sources, Mishra has known Bajaj for nearly a decade and has worked as a front man for several of his business interests while handling financial and accounting matters.

Investigators believe he played a key role in the day-to-day running of the hotel and are examining the extent of his involvement in its management, licensing, finance and operational decisions.

The development comes as Delhi police continue to expand their investigation into the tragedy, one of the capital’s deadliest hotel fires in recent years.

Police have previously questioned the owner of the Bajaje Hotel, who is in custody, about the property’s ownership structure, finances, safety compliance and operational procedures.

During interrogation, Bajaj reportedly told investigators that he had delegated the operation of the hotel to Mishra.

Officers are examining documents, financial records and other business transactions to determine who was responsible for the operation of the hotel and whether mandatory safety standards were ignored. The investigation has already led to the arrest of the hotel’s 65-year-old chef, Keshav Negi, who was produced before the court and placed in police custody. Investigators said Negi was preparing food when the fire started.

The fire killed 22 people, including a 16-year-old girl and 12 foreign nationals from countries including Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Iraq, Congo, Mozambique and Liberia.

The police also charged Bajaj with murder, which does not amount to murder.