A deadly fire in southeast Delhi's Tughlakabad Extension was not an accident but a planned arson over a ₹50,000 debt. Four people, including a 17-year-old girl, have been held over the blaze in a five-storey building. The girl allegedly poured petrol on a scooter belonging to Deepak, a resident of the building's fifth floor, and set it alight to settle scores over money he owed. Deepak was not at home when the incident took place as he was travelling. The fire began in the ground-floor parking area and smoke filled the building within minutes, trapping residents on the upper floors. Three residents who died were identified as Sushila Devi, 70, her grandson Pankaj Pandey, 28, and her granddaughter Soni, 20. The teenager has been apprehended and three adults arrested — a 27-year-old woman, Sarita, and two brothers, Niranjan, 33, and Rajkumar, 27. The brothers are cousins of Deepak and have several criminal cases against them.
The investigation turned after CCTV footage emerged showing a figure entering the building shortly before the fire and leaving within minutes. The case rests on the entry-and-exit footage and on burns to the girl's leg that she is said to have suffered while starting the fire. According to police, Deepak had borrowed ₹50,000 from Sarita some months earlier and had not repaid it. Niranjan directed the plan to torch Deepak's scooter from custody, and he, Sarita, and Rajkumar brought in the 17-year-old girl, a friend.
