In a major breakthrough in the Karol Bagh fire in hotel incident, owner of Hotel Arpit Palace Rakesh Goel was arrested on Saturday, according to a PTI report. Goel was arrested by the Delhi Police Crime Branch from the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in the national capital after a tip-off that he was travelling from Qatar by Indigo flight 6E 1702. A massive fire broke out in the early morning of last Tuesday killing 17 people on its premises, Delhi police said Sunday
The immigration officials were alerted as a look out circular (LOC) was issued against Goel. On his arrival, he was detained and handed over to the Crime Branch. Goel was arrested after brief questioning, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rajesh Deo told PTI. Police said he will be produced in court on Sunday. Meanwhile, besides Goel, two people have been arrested so far — hotel general manager Rajendra Kumar (47) and assistant manager Vikas Kumar (21).
Lack of regulations, as well as non-compliance to fire safety rules, led to the tragedy that left many families devastated beyond repair. An FIR by the Delhi Police listed two basement kitchens, terrace, lack of smoke alarms and fire exit signs in addition to obstruction on the way to the exit in the five-story building as the reasons behind the deaths.
Members of the Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee found glaring violations like the height of the hotel being which was found to be above the permissible 15 metres and the top floor used by the hotel for commercial purposes.