New Delhi, June 7 (IANS) BJP MP Trivendra Singh Rawat on Sunday came out in support of Keshav Negi, a cook who was arrested in the Malviya Nagar hotel fire case, and assured all possible legal support to him to ensure justice.

A massive fire broke out in the multi-storeyed Flourish Stay B&B in the Malviya Nagar area on June 3, claiming 21 lives, including 13 foreigners, and injuring dozens of others. The property’s owner, Lavkesh Bajaj, was arrested following the tragic incident.

Keshav Negi (65) was arrested on Saturday after the investigation revealed that the fire was allegedly caused by his negligence.

In a post on his social media, BJP MP Trivendra Rawat said that he and Garhwal MP Anil Baluni met Delhi Police seeking a fair, transparent probe to avoid injustice.

“Garhwal MP Shri Anil Baluni and I have held discussions with senior Delhi Police officials regarding the arrest of Shri Keshav Negi, who hails from our Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, in connection with the Malviya Nagar fire incident,” he wrote in Hindi (roughly translated in English).

Expressing support for Negi, Rawat emphasised trust in the justice system and commitment to Uttarakhand’s dignity while ensuring the guilty are punished and innocents are protected.

“We have urged for a fair, thorough, and transparent investigation to ensure the truth comes to light and no innocent person faces injustice. We will stand by Shri Negi and provide all possible legal support in the effort to secure justice for him,” he said.

“People from Devbhoomi Uttarakhand are known across the country and the world for their honesty, hard work, and values. We have full faith in the judicial system. The guilty must be punished, but the innocent must certainly receive justice. We remain steadfastly committed to upholding the truth and the honour of Devbhoomi. Jai Uttarakhand!” the BJP MP added.

The officials said that the hotel only had permission to operate six rooms; however, it was operating on over 20.

Additionally, the hotel had reportedly been operating for seven to eight years without obtaining a mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Delhi Fire Services, officials said.

Investigation into the tragic fire is continuing, and further details are awaited.

–IANS

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