Delhi Satya Niketan building collapse: Owner, wife sent to 14-day custody; FIR flags construction despite load concerns

Delhi building collapse: A Delhi court on Monday sent the paying guest (PG) accommodation owner Hariram Gupta and his wife Urmila Gupta to judicial custody for 14 days in connection with the building collapse, in Southwest Delhi's Satya Niketan area, that killed seven people, Bar and Bench reported.

Their son, Mahesh Gupta, has been sent to police custody for two days. The order was passed by Judicial Magistrate First Class Bhavya Kharail, Bar and Bench reported.

The development comes as the Delhi Police investigation into the 6 September collapse has raised questions over construction and renovation work at the building, which was being used as a boys' PG near Delhi University's South Campus.

FIR alleges four floors were added despite load concerns

According to the FIR, the building was several years old and its owners, identified as Hari Bansal, alias Gupta and his brother, had constructed four upper floors allegedly for rental income.

Police have also alleged that further construction work was underway when the structure collapsed, ANI reported.

The FIR claims that the owners were aware that the existing building's foundation could not bear the additional weight, but construction was allegedly carried out despite the concerns. Police have said the additional load potentially endangered people living in the building.

The incident occurred at around 1 pm, with police receiving information at approximately 1.34 pm that a PG building had collapsed and students were trapped inside.

Basement renovation was underway

ASI Praful Toppo, the complainant in the FIR, said police found the entire building collapsed when they reached the spot.

The structure was being used as a PG accommodation for students and other residents, according to a local inquiry cited in the FIR.

Senior police officers, the district crime team, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) personnel, the fire brigade, rescue teams and ambulances were deployed at the site.

Additional DCP Abhimanyu Poswal had earlier said that renovation work was underway in the basement before the collapse.

Poswal said Gupta had admitted to overseeing the renovation. An injured labourer also told police that construction activity was taking place in the basement.

Delhi High Court seeks answers on building permissions

The arrests and FIR allegations come as the Delhi High Court also took up a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning the tragedy.

The petition seeks ₹1 crore in compensation for the victims' families, as well as a structural audit of PG accommodations and hostels.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia heard the PIL on Monday and warned the government that it could not wash its hands of the tragedy.

The court directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to conduct a high-level inquiry into whether the collapsed building had been constructed with valid permission.

It also directed the civic authority to determine responsibility among officials for any lapse and inform the court about the action proposed against those found responsible.

Probe continues after seven deaths

The collapse killed seven people, including students and workers.

The FIR said four people identified as Neeraj, 19, son of Gyanchand; Aaditya Kumar, son of Raju Kunar; Krishna, son of BK Bhardwaj; and four unidentified persons were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre for medical examination.

Inspector Narender Kumar is conducting the investigation.

Meanwhile, following the tragedy, the Delhi government has ordered intensified safety inspections of PG accommodations and coaching centres across the city.

The police investigation and the proceedings before the Delhi High Court are examining different aspects of the collapse, including the building's construction, permissions and the renovation work reportedly underway before it came down.