Delhi hostel owner arrested over building collapse that killed 7

The owner of the ill-fated building that collapsed in southwest Delhi on Sunday has been apprehended from Bhiwadi in Rajasthan, officials said. The arrest came shortly after Delhi Police formed 10 separate teams to track down Hariram.

Police have booked Ram and others on charges including culpable homicide, negligence in the upkeep of a structure and endangering the safety of others at the South Campus police station. Seven people have been killed and several others injured even as search for the missing remain on in the building collapse on Sunday.

An FIR was registered against Hariram soon after the incident even as the city authorities vowed strict actions against illegal structures in the area. An office order issued by the MCD Vigilance Department on September 7 stated that “Rakesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, South Zone, is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect as per DMC Services (Control & Appeal) Regulations, 1959.

He will be paid a subsistence allowance as admissible under the rules.” The search operation is underway as authorities look for more people buried in the debris of the five-storey building. The incident occurred after a renovation work was underway in the basement of the 50-year-old building.