‘Tughlakabad building fire that killed three was not accidental but ‘a planned act’: Delhi Police

A deadly fire that engulfed a multi-storey building in Delhi’s Tughlakabad area, claiming three lives and injuring several others, has taken a shocking turn after police said the blaze was not accidental but allegedly a planned act of arson linked to personal enmity.

The fire broke out at around 2:24 am on Friday in a five-storey residential building in Tughlakabad Extension, located in Delhi’s Govindpuri area. The incident left at least eight people injured, who were rushed to Safdarjung Hospital and the AIIMS Trauma Centre.

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CCTV footage reveals suspected arson plot

Following the incident, police registered a case under Section 287/106(1) BNS (erstwhile Sections 304A/285 IPC) and launched an investigation.

During the probe, CCTV footage allegedly showed a woman entering the building premises shortly before the fire. Investigators said the incident appeared to be a “deliberate act of arson”.

Police apprehended a 17-year-old girl in connection with the case. During questioning, she allegedly revealed that a woman identified as Sarita, aged 27 years, had asked her to arrange petrol and a matchbox to set fire to a scooty belonging to a building resident identified as Deepak over a monetary dispute.

Police allege conspiracy behind fire

According to police, Sarita later revealed during interrogation that the alleged plan was made at the instance of Niranjan, a 33-year-old resident of Navjeevan Camp in Govind Puri, along with his 27-year-old brother Rajkumar.

Police said the alleged motive was to take revenge over a personal dispute.

Following these developments, additional sections including 61 (Criminal Conspiracy), 105 (Culpable Homicide), 110 (Attempt to Culpable Homicide), 326(g) (Mischief by Fire), and 331(4) (Lurking House-Trespass by Night) BNS were added to the case.

Three victims identified after tragedy

Police confirmed that the minor girl and three other accused have been apprehended in the case.

The deceased were identified as Pankaj and Sonia Kumari, both children of Subhash Chand Pandey. Another victim, Sushila Devi, also lost her life in the fire.

Delhi Fire Services (DFS) Assistant Divisional Officer (ADO) Yashwant Singh Meena had earlier said that the building consisted of a ground floor and five upper floors and was located in a narrow lane, making rescue and firefighting operations difficult.

Police said further investigation into the incident is underway.