A 74-year-old man was charred to death at his rented accommodation in South East Delhi’s Greater Kailash I on Thursday night. The deceased, identified as Kapil Dev Aryan, died in the “accidental fire”.
Autopsy was conducted at Safdarjung Hospital on Friday and police have registered a case of accidental fire and death due to negligence.
According to police, the incident was reported around 9.30 pm. Kapil stayed in the single bedroom flat on the second floor of M-38. locals and neighbours saw flames leaping out of his bedroom window and informed the police. He had been staying in the house for the past 40 years. His wife, Promila Aryan, had shifted to her daughter’s residence in Gurgaon some time back. Two fire tenders rushed to the spot and defused the fire in half an hour.
Kapil’s body was seen lying on the settee in his bedroom. Kapil was the son of KC Aryan, a famous painter. Kapil ran a shop of old books and maps in Hauz Khas, but was currently not employed. “There was no electricity in the house for days and Kapil used to work by candlelight. The fire might be a result of a burning candle or cigarette,” conjectured a police official.
Police sources revealed that ownership disputes of the house was on. Kapil had also filed a civil suit against its owner Pawan Gupta at Saket Courts as Gupta had served a legal notice for his eviction.
Kapil’s family alleged that Gupta is behind the senior citizen’s death. Police officers, who inspected the house, said it appears to be a case of accidental fire.
Aryan is survived by his wife and two daughters, Rohini Rastogi and Urvashi Aryan.