Delhi Building Collapse: PG Operator Sudhanshu Arrested, Second Operator Still Absconding

Delhi Police have made another arrest in the Satya Niketan building collapse case, which killed seven people. Police have arrested Sudhanshu, an operator who ran the paying-guest (PG) accommodation in the building. A second operator remains on the run, and police are conducting raids to trace him.

Property Leased in 2025

According to police, the five-storey building was being run jointly by two business partners, who had taken the property on lease in August 2025. Police have been investigating the case since the accident occurred.

Police had earlier arrested a labour contractor who is accused of overseeing "repair" work being carried out in the basement of the building. Police suspect that changes made during this work weakened the building's structure, causing it to collapse. The accident took place on Sunday afternoon and claimed seven lives.

Repair Work Under Way in Basement and Ground Floor

According to South-West Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police Amit Goyal, waste and debris had been accumulating in the basement over the previous eight to ten days due to rain. Repair work was being carried out in the basement to clear this debris and restore the space.

Police said repair work was also under way on the ground floor with the aim of expanding commercial activities. Police are now investigating whether safety standards were followed during this work.

Three Members of Landlord's Family Arrested

Police arrested three members of the landlord's family from Bhiwadi in Rajasthan on Monday. They are 81-year-old Hariram Bansal, his 75-year-old wife Urmila Gupta, and their 52-year-old son Mahesh Gupta.

Hariram Bansal and his wife have been sent to 14 days of judicial custody by a court. Their son Mahesh Gupta, who police say handled the building's operations and upkeep, was sent to two days of police custody.

During questioning, Mahesh provided police with the rental agreement made between his mother and the PG operators. According to police, the agreement names the two partners running the PG as Shubham Tyagi and Sudhanshu. Both are originally from Uttar Pradesh.

Police are now searching for the second, absconding PG operator. They are also investigating the construction and repair work carried out in the building, along with its permissions and adherence to safety standards.