Govindpuri fire ‘deliberate act of arson'; police nab 4 with help of CCTV footage

Crucial CCTV footage recovered in the Delhi fire incident on Friday (June 12), in which three people lost their lives, has revealed that it was not an accident, but a “deliberate act of arson” resulting from a financial feud between two relatives. Delhi Police have arrested three people and a 17-year-old girl for their alleged involvement in the fire, officials said on Sunday (June 14).

3 dead

The fire broke out at around 2.20 am on June 12 at a multi-storey residential building in southeast Delhi's Govindpuri area in Tughlakabad Extension, engulfing the structure from the ground floor to the fifth floor.

Also read: Delhi building fire: 3 members of family killed, 2 critically injured in Govindpuri

Eight people sustained injuries in the incident and were shifted to AIIMS Trauma Centre and Safdarjung Hospital for treatment. Three people of a family, Pankaj Pandey (28) his sister Sonia (20) and maternal grandmother Sushila Devi (70), succumbed to their injuries. Two other family members, Pankaj's mother Guddi Devi (50), who is speech-impaired, and his younger sister Moni (18), are undergoing treatment with critical injuries.

Police reach accused via CCTV

Police initially registered a case under Sections 287 (negligent conduct with respect to fire) and 106(1) (causing death negligence) of the BNS and launched an investigation into the incident. They earlier thought that fire may have originated from a short circuit on the ground floor, where several parked two-wheelers caught fire.

The case, however, took a new turn after police, while checking the CCTV footage of the locality, saw the teenage girl entering the premises of the building shortly before the fire.

"During the probe, teams examined CCTV footage from the area and noticed a woman entering the premises shortly before the fire broke out. Based on the evidence collected, police concluded that the blaze was a deliberate act of arson," DCP (Southeast) Hemant Tiwari said in a statement.

Also read: Delhi building fire: 'Save us' cries, residents used sarees to escape through windows

The 17-year-old girl from Navjeevan Camp in Govindpuri was subsequently identified and apprehended.

Teen exposes arson plot

During questioning, she allegedly disclosed that a 27-year-old woman named Sarita, allegedly instigated her to set ablaze a scooter parked in the building.

Sarita allegedly provided petrol and a matchbox for the act, motivated by a monetary dispute involving Deepak, a resident of the fifth floor of the building, he said.

Further investigation revealed that the conspiracy had been allegedly orchestrated by Niranjan (33) and his brother Rajkumar (27), both residents of Navjeevan Camp in Govindpuri, to settle a personal dispute, according to police.

Apart from the minor, Sarita, Niranjan and Rajkumar are being questioned.

Also read: Delhi fire: How iron window grills, a locked terrace trapped residents, including a toddler

Following the findings, police have added sections related to criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, attempt to culpable homicide, mischief by fire and lurking house-trespass by night under the BNS.

Further investigation in the case is underway.

(With inputs from agencies)