Probe to Trace Absconding Accused in Satya Niketan Collapse.

In Short

The Delhi Police, which has formed several teams, is examining mobile phone records and online chat histories to establish what transpired immediately after the incident.

Delhi Police, probing the circumstances that led to the collapse of the Satya Niketan building on Monday
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Delhi Police, probing the circumstances that led to the collapse of the Satya Niketan building on Monday

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New Delhi: The Delhi Police, probing the circumstances that led to the collapse of the Satya Niketan building on Monday, September 7, is likely to arrest Shubham Tyagi, one of the accused in the case, who is currently absconding.

The Delhi Police, which has formed several teams, is examining mobile phone records and online chat histories to establish what transpired immediately after the incident. According to police, the mobile phone of another accused, Sudhanshu Lovneesh, who has already been arrested, has been sent for forensic examination. Seven people lost their lives in the building collapse.

According to available information, Sudhanshu has been in the paying guest (PG) accommodation business with his friend Shubham Tyagi since 2022. They operate under the name “Hostel Daze” and are reportedly running seven PG facilities in the Satya Niketan area, police said.

The duo had taken the property on rent for ₹1.05 lakh per month. Police claim that they agreed to the relatively low rent because of the building’s dilapidated condition.

Police said Sudhanshu was in his office, barely 100 metres from the building, when it collapsed. Police have obtained his call detail records (CDRs) and are examining them as part of the investigation.

The police are probing the case from multiple angles, including whether renovation and construction work carried out at the property contributed to the collapse.

Police said that after taking over the property, Sudhanshu and Shubham Tyagi did not undertake any major repairs except painting the walls. However, investigators are conducting a detailed probe to determine whether any substantial renovation or structural work was subsequently undertaken and whether it may have weakened the building.

The police are also trying to ascertain whom Lovneesh called immediately after the collapse and what discussions he had with them regarding the incident.

According to sources, a wall on the ground floor was removed on the day of the incident to create space for a shop. Repair and extension work was also reportedly underway on the ground floor for alleged commercial purposes.

Basement work had begun around eight to 10 days before the collapse. Police subsequently arrested labour contractor Sanoj Kumar from Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. Sanoj had been engaged for repair and construction work on the ground floor. As wastewater began accumulating in the basement, three truckloads of debris were reportedly dumped there to raise the basement level to that of the ground floor.

So far, police have arrested building owner’s son Mahesh Gupta, labour contractor Sanoj Kumar and PG operator Sudhanshu Lovneesh. Building owner Hariram Gupta, 81, and his wife, Urmila, 75, are also in judicial custody.

Police said Shubham Tyagi remains absconding and teams have been dispatched to Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and several other places to trace and arrest him

A Journey of Three Decades Time passes faster than we realise. What feels like a journey that began only yesterday has today grown into more than three decades of a meaningful and fulfilling life devoted to education, journalism, and the empowerment of young minds. My professional journey began with journalism training in New Delhi in 1979. I went on to work as an independent journalist, drawing on my fluency in both English and Telugu. Over the years, I have edited and worked on Telugu articles in both languages, an experience that strengthened my command of language and sharpened my understanding of society, people, and contemporary issues. Yet, my principal profession and enduring passion have always been teaching. My decision to become a teacher was not merely a career choice—it was a calling. Teaching offered me the rare privilege of inspiring young minds, guiding them through their formative years, and making a lasting difference in their lives. I found immense satisfaction in simplifying complex concepts, nurturing curiosity, encouraging independent thought, and building confidence among students. Every moment in the classroom—every question, every moment of discovery, and every spark of understanding—reminded me why I had chosen this path: to empower young people through knowledge, values, and essential life skills. My teaching career began at the grassroots level as a Montessori teacher and gradually progressed to the position of Vice Principal. I had the opportunity to work in reputed educational institutions, including Dilsukhnagar Public School in Hyderabad, where I shouldered both teaching and administrative responsibilities. Although I have always considered myself, at heart, a teacher, my administrative experience enabled me to understand and contribute to the education system from a much broader perspective. For my students, I have always tried to be an approachable and dependable presence—someone they could turn to not only for academic support, but also for guidance and emotional encouragement. At the same time, I developed a reputation as a firm disciplinarian who believed that integrity, fairness, responsibility, and discipline were fundamental to education. I was also consistently appreciated for maintaining clear communication with parents and staff and for ensuring that examinations and other academic processes were conducted with transparency, fairness, and efficiency. As my career progressed, however, I began to feel that academic education alone was not enough. This realization led me to work more closely with students following the SSC and CBSE curricula, while consciously bringing life-skills education into my teaching. I came to understand that education becomes truly meaningful when it prepares children not merely to pass examinations, but to face life. Teaching emotional resilience, self-reliance, social awareness, communication, decision-making, and other practical life skills often had a deeper and more lasting impact than academic achievement alone. I saw how these skills could help students navigate challenges with greater confidence, maturity, and responsibility. My academic background provided a strong foundation for this approach. My degree in Psychology from the University of Madras helped me develop a deeper understanding of young people's minds, their emotional needs, and the influence of their family and social environments. My M.A. in Telugu with First Class from Osmania University.

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