Delhi Court Rejects Anticipatory Bail Plea of Satya Niketan PG Operator After 7 Killed in Building Collapse

A Delhi court on Thursday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Satya Niketan PG operator Shubham Tyagi, days after seven people, including five students, were killed when the multi-storey building housing the paying guest accommodation collapsed.

Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler of Patiala House Court dismissed Tyagi’s pre-arrest bail plea. Tyagi, one of the two operators of the boys’ PG, remains on the run.

Police arrested his business partner Sudhanshu on Wednesday morning. The two operators had reportedly taken the property on lease in August 2025 and were running the accommodation as a private boys’ hostel.

The building, located in the student-dominated Satya Niketan area near Delhi University’s South Campus, collapsed on September 6. Seven people — five students and two labourers — died in the incident.

Earlier, police arrested labour contractor Sanoj, who allegedly supervised repair work being carried out in the building’s basement. Investigators suspect the work may have contributed to the collapse.

Fifth Building Collapse in Delhi This Year

The Satya Niketan tragedy has renewed concerns over building safety and unauthorised construction in the national capital. According to PTI, it is the fifth building collapse in Delhi this year, taking the total number of deaths in such incidents to 16.

Official figures and police statements indicate that the 16 fatalities were recorded across three major incidents: six deaths in Saket in May, three in Rohini in July and seven in the latest Satya Niketan collapse.

Officials have pointed to several common factors behind the building collapses, including unauthorised and unregulated construction, additional floors, ageing structures and the absence of proper structural assessments.

They have also flagged inadequate safety precautions during repair work and monsoon-related water damage to foundations, walls and basements as contributing risks.

The latest tragedy has intensified scrutiny of safety standards for buildings being used as paying guest accommodations and private hostels in Delhi.