Delhi house-collapse tragedy owner apprehended in Rajasthan

The owner of the five-storey paying guest accommodation that collapsed in Delhi’s Satya Niketan has been apprehended from Bhiwadi in Rajasthan, nearly a day after the deadly incident.

Police identified the owner as Hariram Bansal/Hariram in reports and launched a search after registering an FIR against him and others in connection with the collapse. The building, which housed a boys’ PG near Delhi University’s South Campus, collapsed on Sunday, September 6, during repair work, leaving several people trapped and at least six people dead.

Following the collapse, the owner was reportedly untraceable, prompting Delhi Police to issue a Look Out Circular and form multiple teams to locate him. Reports said searches were conducted at several locations as investigators tried to track his movements.

Police subsequently traced and apprehended him in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan, on September 7. The development came roughly 24 hours after the building collapsed, bringing the first major breakthrough in the investigation. Authorities are now questioning the owner as they examine the circumstances surrounding the repair work and possible violations that may have contributed to the collapse.

The investigation remains underway, with police also probing the role of other individuals and officials associated with the building.