New Delhi | 09 Sep 2026
Delhi Police arrested paying guest accommodation operator Sudhanshu on Wednesday in connection with the Satya Niketan PG collapse that killed seven people, including five students. The arrest took the number of people held in the case to five as civic authorities began demolishing an unsafe adjoining building.
Fifth arrest in Satya Niketan PG collapse investigation
Police said Sudhanshu and his business partner, Shubham Tyagi, had leased the building in August 2025 and operated the student accommodation under the name “Hostel Daze”. Tyagi remained untraced at the time of reporting.
The other arrested people are building owners Hariram Gupta and Urmila Gupta, their son Mahesh Gupta, and labour contractor Sanoj. Hariram and Urmila were remanded to 14 days’ judicial custody, while Mahesh was questioned in police custody.
Investigators are examining the roles of the owners, operators and workers connected with repairs reportedly being conducted in the basement and on the ground floor. The precise cause of the collapse has not yet been officially established.
MCD begins demolition of unsafe adjoining building
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi began a controlled, phased demolition of the building adjoining the collapsed structure after declaring it dilapidated and unsafe. Its occupants had previously been evacuated and the property sealed.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta directed the MCD to inspect PG accommodations across the capital and act against unauthorised construction. She also ordered scrutiny of building records to determine when the violations occurred and which officials had jurisdiction at the time.
Five MCD officials from the South Zone have been suspended pending an inquiry into possible administrative lapses. The suspensions do not constitute findings of guilt, and the investigation remains under way.
Delhi plans licensing and safety rules for PG facilities
The Delhi government is preparing draft legislation to regulate private hostels and PG accommodation. The proposals include municipal licences, police verification, structural and fire-safety clearances, unique registration numbers and a central public portal for registered properties and complaints.
The Delhi High Court also issued notices to the Centre, the Delhi government and Delhi University on Wednesday over a petition seeking a time-bound hostel development policy. The matter is scheduled to be heard again on 25 September alongside another petition seeking an independent investigation and regulations for hostels and PG facilities.
The Supreme Court is separately expected to consider the wider issue of regulatory compliance for unsafe and unauthorised buildings after the Satya Niketan tragedy was mentioned before it.
