The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital to provide a detailed medical report on the health of Lovkesh Bajaj, the jailed owner of the five-storey Flourish Stay bed-and-breakfast in Malviya Nagar where a fire on 3 June killed 23 people.
Justice Manoj Jain passed the direction while hearing Bajaj's plea seeking interim bail on medical grounds. Court records show Bajaj has been admitted to RML Hospital since 24 August. The matter has been posted for further hearing on Wednesday.
"Let a comprehensive report be sought from the RML Hospital,"
The petition by Bajaj contends he is suffering from intestinal obstructions and that his condition is serious. The trial court had earlier rejected his application for four weeks' interim bail on 3 September, observing that he was receiving adequate specialised treatment in custody and had undergone surgery at RML Hospital.
Accusations and criminal proceedings
Delhi Police has chargesheeted Bajaj along with the hotel manager-cum-accountant Jay Mishra and the cook Keshav Negi in the case. Investigators allege that the 26-room property was operating in violation of bed-and-breakfast rules that permit only six rooms, and that the building lacked adequate safety provisions.
According to the police case, Bajaj's application for a hotel licence was rejected because the property had a single entry-exit point and no fire exit. Instead of reapplying after addressing these deficiencies, prosecutors say Bajaj continued to operate the establishment under the B&B framework.
Police allege the blaze began in the kitchen after Negi left an oil fryer switched on while preparing tea. The flames are said to have spread rapidly through the building, with inflammable materials and the limited egress worsening the calamity. Twenty-four others were reportedly grievously injured.
Medical and custodial timeline
Public records and court filings indicate the following sequence of key events related to Bajaj's health and custody:
- 3 June — Fire at Flourish Stay B&B, Malviya Nagar; 23 dead.
- Subsequent period — Bajaj taken into judicial custody and charged by Delhi Police.
- 24 August — Bajaj admitted to RML Hospital.
- 3 September — Trial court rejected interim bail on medical grounds after noting he had received specialised treatment and surgery at RML.
- 15 September — Delhi High Court seeks comprehensive medical report from RML and lists the matter for further hearing.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 3 June | Fire at Flourish Stay B&B; 23 fatalities |
| 24 August | Bajaj admitted to RML Hospital |
| 3 September | Trial court rejects interim bail application |
| 15 September | Delhi HC seeks comprehensive RML report |
Legal and safety implications
The court's request for a comprehensive hospital report will form part of the material the High Court considers while evaluating whether Bajaj should be granted interim bail on health grounds. Under Indian law, medical exigency can justify temporary release, but courts balance such claims against the nature of the offence, risk of tampering with evidence or absconding, and public interest.
The criminal case has raised broader questions about regulatory oversight of small lodging establishments in the city, particularly those operating as bed-and-breakfast units. Authorities had earlier noted that B&B rules allow only a limited number of rooms, and that safety clearances and adequate exits are mandatory. The police chargesheet points to alleged non-compliance with these norms as a factor that magnified the loss of life in the blaze.
No new submissions by the counsel for Bajaj or the prosecution were recorded in the High Court during Tuesday's brief hearing. The court's direction to obtain a hospital report signals it will weigh medical evidence before taking a decision on interim relief.
The probe into the Malviya Nagar fire remains part of ongoing criminal proceedings. Further details on the hospital report and the High Court's observations are expected when the matter returns to the bench for hearing.
