He drove past his burning hotel as guests jumped from windows to survive. Hours later, Lavkesh Bajaj — owner of Flourish Stay, the Malviya Nagar bed-and-breakfast where fire killed 21 people on June 3 — was arrested. What has since emerged is a portrait of a man who built a quiet hospitality empire on a foundation of ignored rules.
Bajaj, believed to be around 60 and a resident of Saket in South Delhi, maintained a deliberately low profile.
He had been involved in the hospitality business for some time alongside two business partners, and in 2022 purchased the property in Hauz Rani that burned down on June 3.
The building previously housed a Khadi store and was, by Bajaj’s own admission during interrogation, already in a dilapidated condition when
he acquired it, according to NDTV.
How Many Properties Does He Own?
During questioning, Bajaj told investigators he owns three hospitality properties: Lemon Green, Micasa and Flourish Stay. Two are solely owned by him, while Micasa is operated in partnership with three other individuals.
Lemon Green Inn is a three-star listed property in Hauz Rani, a five-minute walk from Max Super Specialty Hospital — the same hospital that drew the foreign medical tourists who died in the fire.
According to TOI, locals also identified Urban Oasis, another property in the same neighbourhood, as being linked to Bajaj — it too has a single entry and exit point.
What Did He Admit To Police?
Quite a lot. According to NDTV, Bajaj confirmed he obtained a licence under the B&B scheme — which permits a maximum of six rooms — but was operating 25, including rooms in the basement.
He admitted increasing the number of rooms because the business was generating good profits and he believed such violations were commonly overlooked in Delhi.
He also told police the hotel had no fire NOC. His explanation for the hands-off approach: he did not have enough time to personally oversee the property and had delegated operations entirely to staff.
Who Was Actually Running Flourish Stay?
According to NDTV, Bajaj handed day-to-day management to Jai Mishra, and crucially, when applying for the B&B licence, had allegedly named his accountant Jay Mishra as the owner and resident of the building — a requirement under the scheme that mandates the actual owner live on the premises.
All hotel licences were issued in Mishra’s name. Mishra remains absconding. Police are also looking for Kesar Singh, described as another key associate.
What Did He Do When The Fire Broke Out?
According to NDTV, Bajaj drove past the burning building without stopping — he later told police he did so “out of fear.” He did not go home. He wandered.
Delhi Police had begun the process of issuing a lookout circular against him and his wife, suspecting he might flee the country — both his children are settled abroad. He was arrested hours after the blaze.
The Saket Court has since remanded him to four days of police custody.
Could He Face Criminal Charges?
Senior Counsel and Supreme Court constitutional expert Vivek Narayan Sharma was quoted by The Times of India as saying that the case may go beyond negligence.
“Operating a premises permitted for six rooms as a 25-room establishment, including basement occupancy, without a valid fire NOC and with only a single exit route, points towards a conscious disregard of known safety risks,” Sharma said.
He added that if the prosecution establishes prior knowledge of the risks and continued operation despite them, “criminal liability may extend far beyond ordinary negligence.”
| Property | Location | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Flourish Stay | Hauz Rani, Malviya Nagar | Site of fire; under investigation |
| Lemon Green Inn | Hauz Rani, Malviya Nagar | Solely owned; operational |
| Micasa | South Delhi | Co-owned with 3 partners; under scrutiny |
| Urban Oasis | Hauz Rani, Malviya Nagar | Allegedly linked; locals raise safety concerns |
What “Dilli mein sab chalta hai” — everything works in Delhi — reportedly meant to Bajaj was that rules were negotiable. Twenty-one people paid for that belief with their lives.
