Karol Bagh inferno: Licensee of Arpit Palace hotel arrested

New Delhi: Delhi Police on Tuesday has arrested the key accused cum licensee of the hotel Arpit Palace in Karol Bagh where 17 persons killed inside the fire on February 12.

A few days ago his brother Rakesh Goel, owner of Arpit Palace Hotel, was nabbed by Crime Branch.

"Sharadindu Goel, elder brother of Rakesh Goel and licensee of Hotel Arpit Palace arrested. His anticipatory bail was got dismissed by the local court," said the Delhi Police statement.

Police claimed that Goel was evading his arrest since February 12. He visited the Crime Branch office on Tuesday. He was arrested after he failed to give a satisfactory reply to the interrogators.

Police claimed that Goel was in Delhi when the fire incident took place.

Earlier on Saturday, his brother Rakesh Goel, owner of the hotel, was arrested by the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police.

Earlier, Crime Branch had issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against the two persons. Police sources claimed that they will also investigate the role of other persons in the case.

Police said that they had negligence from the part of the hotel. Police claimed that for making walls and partition between two rooms plastic and combustible materials, were used.

"For the emergency exit, no display of proper signage and in the kitchen walls also combustible materials found," added police. At the place of occurrence, there was no panic alarm.

"A temporary structure who can catch fire anytime was erected on the rooftop of the hotel," revealed the police investigation.

The initial investigation by Delhi Police in the Karol Bagh's hotel fire incident revealed that some blockage was there in the emergency exit route of the hotel.

At the time of the incident in Arpit Palace 60 guests and 12 hotel employees were present and more than 30 rooms were occupied.

Hotel stairs had wooden cascading and there were many combustible materials inside the hotel which act as a catalyst in spreading the fire.

The police officer used Laser 3D imaging at the spot to gather clues. "It was used for the first time in Delhi. Through Laser 3D imaging video and photographs can be taken and later stretch for minute details," said an officer.

DFS action

According to Delhi Fire Services (DFS), they have suspended the Non Objection Certificate (NOC) of 105 hotels of Delhi.

They inspected 145 hotels and found that rules were not being followed in hotels.