Hindustantimes wants to start sending you push notifications. Click allow to subscribe

Delhi police arrest Rakesh Goel, owner of Karol Bagh hotel Arpit Palace where 17 people died in a fire

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByHT Correspondent
Feb 17, 2019 03:07 PM IST

Rakesh Goel, the owner of hotel Arpit Palace in Karol Bagh, was arrested by Delhi Police’s Crime Branch and will be produced in court today, DCP Rajesh Deo said.

The Delhi Police has arrested Rakesh Goel, the owner of hotel Arpit Palace in Karol Bagh, in connection with the fire that broke out last Tuesday and left 17 people dead.

Goel was arrested by Delhi Police’s Crime Branch and will be produced in court today, DCP Rajesh Deo said.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

DCP Deo said that Goel was arrested after information was received that he was travelling from Qatar by Indigo flight 6E 1702. The Immigration officials were alerted on the basis of a look out circular and he was detained and handed over the the Crime Branch.

The police will seek his remand in order to expedite the investigation.

Also Read | Delhi hotel that caught fire was booked by wedding party, child among dead

Rakesh Goel was booked by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a forgery case in 2008.

Last Tuesday, a massive fire had broken out in the wee hours of Hotel Arpit Palace and had left 17 people dead. When the fire broke out, the hotel was housing 60 guests in 35 of the 46 rooms. About a dozen staffers were also present in the hotel at that time. Out of the 17 people who died in the fire, two died after they jumped off the roof of the hotel to escape the flames.

Also read: Most victims of Arpit Palace had checked in a day before

During the course of the investigation, the police found out that the licence to run the hotel was in the name of Rakesh Goel’s brother Shardendu Goel, who lives in Karol Bagh’s Bank Street.

While Rakesh has been arrested, the police are still looking for Shardendu, who is on the run.

The first information report that was filed in the case stated that the hotel’s management knew that the use of inflammable materials in the building could endanger the safety of its guests.

It also said that for “their business”, the “licensee and the management” of the hotel had ignored the safety of its guests. The FIR was filed on the complainant of sub-inspector Jagmal Singh.

“There was no panic alarm on any of the floors or in the restaurants of the hotel,” the FIR read.

The FIR pointed out that there was only one emergency exit and that was found closed at the time of the incident. “Not a single person could escape through the emergency exit,” sub-inspector’s statement read.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
OPEN APP