Two days after a fire at a residential building in Southeast Delhi’s Tughlakabad Extension claimed three lives, two scooters emerged as crucial evidence in the case. Not only was a minor girl apprehended and three others arrested, but the Delhi Police also found out that the blaze was “not an accident”.

The incident occurred around 2.24 am on June 12. The fire rapidly spread from the ground floor to the fifth, trapping residents and triggering panic.

Emergency responders rushed to the scene and rescued several residents. Eight people, who had sustained injuries, were taken to AIIMS Trauma Centre and Safdarjung Hospital for treatment.

Despite medical efforts, however, three of the victims — Pankaj (28), his sister Soni (20), and their grandmother Sushila Devi (70) — succumbed to their injuries.

Investigators, while scanning CCTV footage, spotted a young girl entering the building premises, her face covered, just seconds before the blaze broke out on the ground floor.

“CCTV footage showed a girl entering and leaving the building premises. Around 30 seconds later, an explosion occurred on the ground floor. A flash of flames can be seen in the footage. Soon after, the girl can be seen leaving the area quietly,” a police officer said.

Investigators later found that the masked girl had set a parked scooter on fire, triggering the blaze that engulfed the building.

“The challenge was to identify the masked girl,” the officer said.

Teams comprising officers from the local police station and the district’s special staff were tasked with collecting CCTV footage from various to track the girl’s movements. Investigators found that she had arrived on another scooter. She was riding a pillion while a woman was riding the two-wheeler, they said..

With the help of CCTV footage, police zeroed in on their residences.

The teams subsequently recovered the scooter used in the crime from one of the accused, who runs a stall in her locality. The minor girl, later found to be 17-year-old, was apprehended from her residence.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Hemant Tiwari said that during questioning, the juvenile told police that the 27-year-old woman had allegedly instigated her and provided petrol and a matchbox to set the scooter ablaze that belonged to one Deepak, who lives on the fifth floor of the building where the fire later broke out. The girl said there was some “monetary dispute”, the DCP said.

The arrested woman, however, claimed that the conspiracy had been hatched at the behest of her friend and his brother, who allegedly wanted “revenge” as they had a dispute with Deepak, DCP Tiwari said.

According to the police, the woman’s friend and his brother have been involved in criminal cases, including robbery and attempted murder. The woman’s friend had also been declared a ‘Bad Character’ by the local police station.

Police also said that Deepak had allegedly borrowed Rs 50,000 from the accused woman a few months ago, but failed to repay on time. “The outstanding amount, along with interest, had risen to Rs 80,000, which the woman wanted back. However, Deepak was allegedly refusing to pay,” an officer said.

Sources said investigators are also examining if there were other motives, as local residents have alleged the sale of drugs and other illegal contraband in the area.

Initially, police had registered a case under Sections 287 and 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for negligent conduct and causing death by negligence. “In light of the findings, police have added serious charges under the BNS, including criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, attempt to commit culpable homicide, mischief by fire, and lurking house-trespass by night,” the officer said.

Police said further investigation is underway.