MCD report in HC blows lid off glaring violations in Vishal Mega Mart building

The status report filed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in the Delhi High Court has blown the lid off glaring violations in the Vishal Mega Mart building at Karol Bagh, where two men, including a UPSC aspirant, lost their lives in a massive fire in July.

The sanctioned plan, the affidavit reveals, was strictly for residential construction, basement, ground floor, first floor and barsati floor on a 4,000 sq ft plot. Yet, Vishal Mega Mart was running from the premises without any conversion from residential to commercial use. “No conversion from residential to commercial was sought from the answering respondent (MCD) regarding the subject property,” the affidavit reads.

Despite this, the building secured a 207-kW non-domestic electricity connection from the BSES in 2008. The MCD said it was “not aware” on what representations this power connection was obtained, exposing the complete breakdown of inter-agency coordination. Even more damning, the MCD admitted that conversion charges were paid only on July 11, 2025, a full week after the fatal fire.

The report dragged in the Delhi Fire Services (DFS), pointing to its powers under the Delhi Fire Services Act, 2010, to inspect and seal unsafe premises. But no fire NOC was ever sought for the property. The affidavit says while the sanctioned residential plan of 1990 did not require one, no effort was made later to obtain a NOC after the building turned commercial.

The MCD claimed that it had issued letters as far back as 2011 to the BSES, Delhi Jal Board and the sub-registrar to disconnect services and stop further transactions on the property. Yet, electricity continued to flow and the mart ran operations unchecked.

In the aftermath of the blaze, the MCD demanded documents from Vishal Mega Mart Ltd and its operator Airplaza Retail Holdings Pvt Ltd on July 16 and July 24. Their replies, dated July 30, were evasive. Vishal Mega Mart distanced itself, saying operations were run by Airplaza.

Airplaza in turn called itself merely a tenant, shifting responsibility for fire safety and lift installation on to the property owners.

The case is being heard on a plea by NGO Kutumb, filed through advocate Rudra Vikram Singh, which has accused the authorities of collusion and gross negligence. It argues that the July 4 fire was a direct result of failure to enforce fire safety protocols and unchecked licensing of commercial units in congested areas. The petition has sought a court-monitored probe, prosecution of negligent officials, and immediate closure of unauthorised establishments in Karol Bagh.

Earlier, a Division Bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela had sought replies from the Delhi Government, MCD, DFS and the DDA.

“As per affidavit filed by the Delhi Police and the MCD itself it is clear that because of the involvement in corruption of officials of the MCD, BSES, Delhi Fire Service, Jal Board and Delhi Police, unauthorised and illegal building of Vishal Mega Mart was running, which ultimately causes death of two young people. Hence, officials of these department must be punished,” advocate Singh told The Tribune.