Delhi B&B fire case chargesheet

Notes

• Delhi Police filed a 1,500-page chargesheet regarding a fire at a Malviya Nagar B&B that resulted in 23 deaths.
• Accused include the owner, manager, and cook, charged under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) including culpable homicide not amounting to murder (Section 105) and negligent conduct (Section 287).
• The facility operated in violation of B&B norms: it had 26 rooms despite permission for only six, lacked a fire exit, and had only one entry/exit point.
• The owner had previously been denied a hotel licence due to these safety deficiencies but continued operations under the B&B framework.
• The manager allegedly submitted a false affidavit and failed to reside at the premises, violating B&B regulatory requirements.
• The fire originated in the kitchen due to an unattended oil fryer; the cook failed to alert guests or emergency services after the fire grew uncontrollable.
• Investigation involved statements from over 130 witnesses and forensic analysis of a 30-minute delay in reporting the incident.