In connection with the building incident in the Satya Niketan area, Delhi Police have taken strict action by arresting a total of three individuals. The apprehended accused include Hariram Gupta, who is identified as the building owner, along with his wife Urmila Gupta and their son Mahesh Gupta. During the thorough investigation of this entire episode, police have uncovered several crucial pieces of information regarding the ownership of the building and the operation of the paying guest accommodation.
Fleeing Family Tracked Down in Bhiwadi and Gurugram
According to the police, initial investigations identified Hariram Gupta as the primary owner of the building. Following the incident, Hariram and his family had fled from their residence located in Gurugram. Taking swift action, the police managed to track down and arrest Hariram Gupta from Bhiwadi in Haryana. Subsequent investigations revealed that both Hariram and his son Mahesh jointly managed and oversaw the entire operations and functioning of the PG running inside this building.
Discrepancies in Electricity Connection and Property Ownership
A significant fact that emerged during the probe is that the electricity connection for the building was registered in the names of Hariram Gupta and his son Mahesh Gupta. However, property documents indicate that his wife Urmila Gupta is the legal owner of the building. Because of this discrepancy, the police are now working to determine the exact role of each family member in the actual operation, ownership, and management of the PG.
Renovation Work Underway After Basement Flooding
During the course of the investigation, information also came to light that water had accumulated in the basement of the building last year. Following this, renovation work was being carried out in the basement. The incident occurred during this very period. The police are now investigating the exact nature of the construction or repair work being conducted in the basement and whether safety standards were strictly adhered to during the process.
Rent Agreement Comes Under Police Scrutiny
Following the incident, a copy of a rent agreement has also surfaced, which reportedly contains a clause stating that the owner shall not bear any responsibility in the event of an accident. The police are currently examining this document closely. According to investigative officials, the arrested accused Mahesh Gupta will be questioned regarding this agreement. The police want to ascertain who inserted such a condition into the agreement and for what reason, alongside verifying the authenticity of the document and other terms mentioned within it.
Were There Other PGs Operated by the Family?
The police are also verifying whether Hariram and Mahesh were operating a PG solely in this specific building or if they owned other properties or PGs in the surrounding locality. Addressing this query, police officials stated that preliminary investigations point to the operation of a single building and a single PG. Nevertheless, inquiries into the family's other properties and potential parallel operations are still ongoing.
Establishing Accountability and Piecing Together the Sequence
At present, the primary focus of the police investigation is to uncover what kind of work was going on inside the building at the time of the incident, who bore the responsibility for running the PG, under whose permission the basement renovation was being conducted, and whether safety regulations were followed. Through continuous interrogation of the three arrested accused, the police are attempting to piece together the entire sequence of events. Simultaneously, based on the rent agreement, electricity connection, and property documents, authorities are determining at which level accountability lies for the incident.
