Delhi Police have apprehended a labour contractor responsible for supervising repair work at the basement of the Satya Niketan paying guest (PG) building, which has recently been involved in an unfortunate incident. Meanwhile, the elderly couple who own the property have been placed in judicial custody for 14 days. This development comes as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Initial questioning of Sanoj revealed that repair work was being carried out in the basement on the day the building collapsed, according to the police. The labour contractor, identified as Sanoj, was arrested from Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh and is being brought to Delhi for further examination, a police official said on Tuesday. Waste had reportedly been accumulating there during the rainy season for the past eight to 10 days. Meanwhile, building owner Urmila, 75, and her retired husband Hariram, 81, were produced before a court, which sent them to 14 days of judicial custody.
Police also said that repair work was underway on the ground floor for an extension aimed at commercial use. Their son Mahesh was sent to police custody for two days, an official said.
The latest arrests and custody orders come as authorities continue to act against unsafe structures and alleged lapses in the area following the collapse. The family had leased the property to the PG operators, ‘Hostel Daze’, in August 2025.
During questioning, Mahesh reportedly told investigators that he handled the maintenance of the building on behalf of his parents.
