Delhi Court Grants Bail to Head Chef in Fatal Hotel Fire Case, Distinguishing Staff Duties from Management Liability

A Delhi court has ruled that a head chef cannot be held criminally liable for a devastating hotel fire that killed more than 20 people, setting a significant legal precedent for how workplace safety responsibilities are allocated between operational staff and business owners in the hospitality sector.

Chef's Role Did Not Include Safety Compliance

On July 27, 2026, Additional Sessions Judge Samar Vishal at the Saket court granted regular bail to Kesar Negi, a 65-year-old head chef who had been in custody since June 6. The ruling makes clear that performing routine kitchen duties does not equate to criminal negligence, even in cases of major workplace disasters.

The court emphasised that Negi was a salaried employee, not a manager or owner. According to the judgment, the daily responsibilities of a cook do not extend to fire safety compliance or building maintenance — obligations that fall squarely on business owners and management.

The judge noted there was no compelling reason to keep Negi in continued detention, as his role did not involve the institutional safety measures that were allegedly lacking at the property. The bail was set at a bond of ?50,000 with one surety.

Negi's legal representatives argued that he bore no responsibility for safety protocols and had actively assisted in evacuation efforts during the incident.

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Fire Cause Still Under Investigation

The fire broke out on June 3 at the Flourish Inn B&B, also known as the Flourish Stay Hotel, in the Malviya Nagar area of Delhi. The blaze claimed the lives of more than 20 people, including 13 foreign nationals, and left approximately 24 others injured.

Despite the severity of the incident, the court observed that the scientific cause of the fire has not yet been definitively established. Investigators from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) are currently preparing a report to determine the origin of the blaze.

While earlier police allegations suggested that a kitchen fryer may have been left unattended, the defence has maintained that a short circuit was the likely cause. The court noted that the FSL report remains pending, making it difficult to link the chef's specific actions to the start of the fire.

Focus Shifts to Hotel Ownership

The investigation has increasingly turned toward the hotel's ownership and management. The property owner, Lavkesh Bajaj, was previously arrested after it emerged that the building was operating without a valid fire No Objection Certificate (NOC).

In a separate legal development earlier this week, an accountant who was also arrested in connection with the fire filed a plea seeking a court-monitored investigation. The employee, who surrendered to authorities on June 8, has alleged that investigators may be protecting the property owner. The court has set a deadline of August 3 for a formal reply to this request.

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The ruling on Negi's liability establishes a potential precedent for how Indian courts distinguish between the daily tasks of operational staff and the statutory safety responsibilities of business owners — a distinction that carries implications for hospitality employers across the country.

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