Bajaj — Urban Oasis

'He kept building': Why residents fear another fire trap in Malviya Nagar

On the narrow lanes of Hauz Rani, Malviya Nagar, the signs are disappearing. Banners have been pulled down, shutters lowered, and several properties linked to arrested hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj have fallen silent in the aftermath of the fire that killed 21 people. But behind the closed doors, residents say, lies a story of unchecked expansion, ignored safety concerns and a belief that rules could always be bent.