Mahesh Gupta, who was responsible for maintaining the collapsed building in Delhi’s Satya Niketan on behalf of his parents, told police that he had rented the property to business partners Shubham Tyagi and Sudhanshu in August 2025.
The two men later operated the premises as a boys’ paying guest (PG) accommodation called Hostel Daze. Sudhanshu has been arrested, while Tyagi remains absconding.
On Monday, Hariram Gupta, his wife Urmila and their son Mahesh were arrested. The couple was sent to 14 days of judicial custody, while 52-year-old Mahesh was remanded to police custody for two days.
The five-storey building, located in densely populated Satya Niketan, collapsed on Sunday afternoon. The area is a popular residential hub for students because it is close to Delhi University’s South Campus. Seven people, including five students and two labourers, died in the incident, while five others were rescued.
According to the FIR, the owners, Hariram and his brother, had illegally added extra floors to the decades-old building to generate rental income.
The unauthorised construction placed additional stress on the existing structure, despite the owners allegedly knowing that its foundation could not support the extra weight.
The basement had also been under repair for the past eight to 10 days after waste and water accumulated there following several days of heavy rainfall. The ground floor was reportedly also undergoing repair work to facilitate an extension for commercial use.
Police are also investigating a rent agreement issued to residents of the PG.
A police source said the agreement mentioned that the PG operators would not be responsible for any “casualties or risk” faced by tenants.
The agreement further stated that the hostel would not be liable for compensation in cases of personal injury, loss or damage to belongings arising from circumstances beyond its control, including sealing, fire, earthquakes and heavy rainfall.
Meanwhile, police arrested a labour contractor from Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh in connection with the case. Officials said he was travelling to Delhi for questioning regarding construction and repair work undertaken at the building.
On Tuesday, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the AIIMS Trauma Centre and met the families of students affected by the collapse. She announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each for those injured in the incident.
AIIMS said four patients had been admitted following the collapse, with two subsequently discharged after treatment. One patient remains in the ICU in critical condition, while the fourth is reported to be stable.
Sources in the Chief Minister’s Office said compensation for the families of those who lost their lives would be announced shortly.
The Chief Minister has also instructed the municipal corporation to carry out a safety assessment of PG accommodations across Delhi. The review will cover building safety, necessary permissions, Fire Safety NOCs and structural stability certificates.
The incident has raised serious concerns among students living around the South Campus regarding the safety of PG accommodations, along with issues such as high rents and overcrowded living conditions.
Education Minister Ashish Sood said the government plans to introduce a policy and launch a web portal within 30-45 days to regulate PG accommodations and coaching institutes. The proposed portal will provide information on PG facilities, availability, amenities and prescribed safety standards.
