The operator of the five-storey PG in South Delhi’s Satya Niketan, which collapsed on Sunday, killing seven people, has been arrested, police said.
The accused, identified as Sudhanshu, was associated with the ‘Hostel Daze’ chain, which operates seven facilities in the area, including separate hostels for male and female students.
The collapsed PG had eight rooms and 16 beds spread across four floors. Police suspect that only seven to eight students were inside when the structure came down, as several residents had left for a three-day Raksha Bandhan break.
What was the operator’s role?
According to police, Sudhanshu had been managing the property since August 2025, when it was opened for commercial use.
He was responsible for setting up the 16-bed PG, arranging its amenities, overseeing maintenance and supervising repair and construction work at the nearly 50-year-old building.
Police sources said Sudhanshu was also the primary person prospective tenants interacted with while seeking accommodation. He allegedly handled the signing of rent agreements as well.
The agreements reportedly contained a clause stating that the PG owners would not be responsible for any casualty or death involving students staying at the property.
A rental agreement accessed by The Indian Express also appears to absolve the owners of responsibility for risks to residents’ lives. It reportedly gave the management the authority to ask students to vacate their rooms at its discretion, without providing a specific reason.
Police are questioning Sudhanshu to establish where he was on the day of the collapse and to determine how the property was being managed.
Fifth arrest in the case
Sudhanshu is the fifth person arrested in connection with the incident.
The property owner, Hari Ram, his son Mahesh, wife Urmila, and labour contractor Saroj were arrested earlier.
Police suspect that the owners were aware that the old building may not have been structurally capable of supporting four additional floors, yet allegedly allowed the construction to proceed before leasing the property to a PG operator.
A senior police officer said investigators are also examining whether the PG operator carried out adequate checks to determine whether the building was safe for occupation.
Adjoining building also declared dangerous
Meanwhile, demolition of the building adjoining the collapsed structure began on Wednesday morning after authorities declared it dangerous.
The adjoining property housed a girls’ hostel, raising further concerns about the safety of buildings in the area and the construction work carried out on older structures.
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