Gurugram Bus Fire Case: 3 Accused Go Missing After Bail, Court Cancels Bail and Issues Arrest Warrants

September 26, 2026

Gurugram: Three accused in the Gurugram bus fire case of November 2023, in which four people were killed, have gone underground after being granted bail. Taking a strict view of their repeated absence from court proceedings, the court cancelled their bail and forfeited their bail bonds on November 21, 2025.

Subsequently, on July 9, 2026, the court issued arrest warrants against all three accused and sent notices to the individuals who had stood as their bail sureties.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for January 16, 2027. The development has once again brought the 2023 Gurugram bus fire into focus after a recent bus fire in Greater Noida claimed the lives of nine passengers.

Bus Caught Fire on Gurugram Flyover, Four People Died

The incident took place on the night of November 8, 2023, near the Jharsa flyover on the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway in Gurugram.

A private bus registered in Arunachal Pradesh had departed from the Sector 12 Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT) and was travelling towards Uttar Pradesh. Around 45 workers and their family members were travelling in the bus when it suddenly caught fire on the Jharsa flyover.

The fire reportedly started in the luggage compartment at the rear of the bus and quickly spread throughout the vehicle. The flames were so intense that several passengers were forced to jump out through the windows to save themselves.

Four people died in the incident. Twenty-five-year-old Maya, her six-year-old daughter Deepali, and 24-year-old pregnant woman Gayatri were killed in the fire. Another five-year-old girl, Anya, later died while undergoing treatment at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi.

LPG Cylinder, Firecrackers Found in Bus

A police investigation found that an LPG cylinder and firecrackers had allegedly been stored illegally in the rear portion of the bus. Investigators said these materials acted as fuel and contributed to the intensity of the fire.

The investigation also found that the bus had previously been fined multiple times for violations of regulations.

A few days after the incident, police arrested the bus operator Rajesh Kumar, driver Ram and co-driver Pradeep. A case was registered against the three at Sector 40 police station.

Accused Stopped Appearing in Court

On February 12, 2024, the day police filed the charge sheet in court, all three accused were granted bail.

On June 2, 2025, the accused sought exemption from personal appearance, which was granted for that hearing. However, they subsequently stopped appearing in court proceedings.

According to a police official, the repeated absence of the accused has delayed the hearing on framing of charges. The situation worsened after the counsel representing the accused also stopped appearing in court.

Taking a strict view of their continued absence, the court cancelled their bail and forfeited their bail bonds on November 21, 2025.

On July 9, 2026, the court issued arrest warrants against all three accused and also sent notices to the people who had stood as their bail sureties.

Police Directed to Produce Accused in Court

Poonam, SHO of Sector 40 police station, said police would ensure that the three accused are produced before the court for the next hearing.

The next hearing is scheduled for January 16, 2027, while police are acting in accordance with the court’s orders to locate and arrest the accused.