Man sets 20 cars afire at west Delhi parking lot; arrested

New Delhi: Twenty cars were gutted at a multi-level parking facility in west Delhi's Subhash Nagar on Monday morning following a blaze that started allegedly after a 23-year-old man set afire one of the vehicles to take revenge on its owner, police said.

Fire officials said a call was received about the fire in the basement of the four-level MCD parking facility around 4 am and seven fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The blaze was brought under control by 6:10 am, a senior fire official said, adding that no casualties were reported.

With the help of CCTV footage, the culprit identified as Yash Arora, a resident of Subhash Nagar, was arrested.

"During interrogation, he told the police that he had personal enmity with the owner of an Ertiga car and to take revenge on him, Arora burnt the car which was parked at the MCD parking facility," a police officer said, adding further investigation is underway.

A case was registered under sections 436 (Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house, etc) and 427 (Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) of the Indian Penal Code and that of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property in connection with the incident, the police official said.

"Out of the 20 cars, the registration number of 14 could be traced. The registration number of the remaining parked cars could not be identified due to the damage from the fire," said Atul Garg, Director of Delhi Fire Service.

Officials at Rajouri Garden police station received information around 4:30 am regarding the fire. "Twenty cars were found burnt in the basement of the parking facility, out of which some vehicles were completely destroyed," a senior police officer said.

"When CCTV cameras installed at the MCD parking lot were checked, a person was seen setting afire a tyre of an Eritga car and after that other parked cars also caught fire," the officer said.

CCTV cameras installed showed the culprit coming in a Honda CRV white car and after the incident, he left the spot in the same vehicle.

Police said they followed the accused with the help of CCTV footage and he was later nabbed.