Delhi Police personnel stand with paying guest (PG) operator Sudhanshu, second right, and labour contractor Sanoj, following their arrest in connection with the Satya Niketan building collapse case, in New Delhi. Photo: Special Arrangement
The investigation into the September 6 collapse of a five-storey paying guest (PG) building in South West Delhi’s Satya Niketan has led to the arrest of Sudhanshu, one of the operators of the PG accommodation, the officials said on Wednesday (September 9, 2026).The building collapse that happened on Sunday (September 6, 2026) afternoon killed seven persons and injured five others.According to officials, the police are examining the role of leaseholders of the building and the construction and repair work being carried out in the basement and on the ground floor.The building was housing a PG accommodation being run under the name ‘Hostel Daze’ PG, which also has other branches in the same area. The students in the area said that the building had been non-functional for a couple of years before being leased out to Mr. Sudhanshu and two others last year, who managed and operated the day-to-day functioning of the PG.Also Read: Delhi High Court notice on plea for DU hostels, safety audits of PGsFollowing a sealing drive by MCD, the nearby hostels and PGs are being evacuated, and the building adjacent to the one collapsed is being demolished due to safety concerns.The police on Tuesday (September 8, 2026) also apprehended a labour contractor named Sanoj in the case from Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh. On Monday (September 7, 2026), a Delhi court sent two other accused, Hariram, an ex-IAF sergeant and his wife, Urmila, to 14 days’ judicial custody, while their son, Mahesh, was remanded to police custody for two days.On Wednesday (September 9, 2026), he was taken to the court as the police remand ended.According to the police, the property was registered in Ms. Urmila’s name, while Mr. Hariram and Mr. Mahesh were involved in its management. The investigation is examining alleged unauthorised construction and the circumstances surrounding renovation work.During the investigation, Mr. Mahesh stated that he used to manage the maintenance of the building on behalf of his parents, the officials said. Mr. Mahesh and Mr. Hariram had given the building on lease to the PG Operators ‘Hostel Daze’ in August, 2025.The basement floor was being repaired, and waste was accumulating during the rainy season for at least ten days prior to the incident, the police said. The ground floor was being repaired for an extension for commercial purposes. On the day of the incident, the family came to know about the collapse from the locals and fled from their home to their in-laws' house in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan.The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has suspended five officials following the collapse. The Delhi High Court has directed authorities to inspect PG accommodations across the city, including their construction permissions and compliance with building bye-laws, bringing municipal oversight under scrutiny.The investigation is continuing to establish whether unauthorised construction, repair work or lapses in regulatory enforcement contributed to the collapse. Published - September 09, 2026 12:58 pm IST
