The Delhi High Court has granted four weeks of interim bail on medical grounds to Lovekesh Bajaj, the owner of a south Delhi guest house where a fire claimed 23 lives earlier this year.
Justice Sachin Datta approved the temporary release to enable Bajaj to recuperate following surgery, stating that the decision was made without taking any stance on the legal merits of the underlying criminal proceedings.
Medical Grounds Cited for Temporary Release
Medical records submitted to the court established that Bajaj underwent major abdominal surgery on August 31 and was discharged from hospital care on September 15.
The court noted that the medical evaluation highlighted a continuing possibility of post-surgical complications that necessitate diligent healthcare management. Taking into account the seriousness of the procedure and the short duration since his hospital discharge, the bench concluded that temporary relief was justified to facilitate his recovery.
Arrest and Tragedy Details
Bajaj was taken into custody by the Delhi Police after a massive fire tore through Flourish Stays, a bed-and-breakfast facility located in the Hauz Rani neighbourhood of Malviya Nagar, in June.
The blaze resulted in the deaths of 23 occupants, including 13 foreign nationals.
Following their investigation into the fatal incident, police formally chargesheeted Bajaj with offences including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, mischief by fire, and negligence concerning combustible materials.
