New Delhi, September 9: A Delhi court on Wednesday sent three persons, including the son of the owner of a collapsed building in Satya Niketan, a paying guest accommodation operator and a labour contractor, to two days of police custody in connection with the incident that claimed seven lives.
The five-storey structure, being used as a PG accommodation, collapsed on September 6, killing seven people and triggering an investigation into possible violations related to construction and building safety.
The accused sent to police custody are building owner’s son Mahesh Gupta, PG operator Sudhanshu and contractor Sanoj. Police had sought three days of custodial interrogation to question them about the circumstances surrounding the collapse.
The court permitted two days of police custody.The proceedings were held in camera after the counsel representing Sudhanshu raised concerns over media coverage of the case.
The lawyer argued that extensive reporting could affect the ongoing investigation and prejudice the proceedings.
According to investigators, the property was leased in August 2025 to Sudhanshu and his business partner Shubham Tyagi.
The two subsequently began operating the premises as a paying guest facility under the name ‘Hostel Daze’. Tyagi has not yet been traced and is reported to be absconding.Police also arrested labour contractor Sanoj, who was brought to Delhi from Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh for questioning.
Earlier, building owner Hariram, an 81-year-old retired Indian Air Force personnel, and his 75-year-old wife Urmila were sent to 14 days of judicial custody.
Their son Mahesh was placed in police custody for questioning.The investigation is examining whether construction carried out over the years contributed to the structural failure.
Police have indicated that the building was old and that additional floors may have been added allegedly to increase rental income.Investigators are now examining the construction history, structural condition, permissions and possible lapses in safety measures to determine what led to the collapse.
The incident has also renewed concerns over the safety of buildings being used as student and PG accommodation in densely populated areas of the national capital.
The probe is continuing, and the precise cause of the collapse and individual responsibility of those arrested are yet to be established.
