In a tragic incident that unfolded on May 25, 2024, a fire at Baby Care New Born Hospital in Vivek Vihar, Delhi, led to the deaths of eight newborn babies. The Delhi Police have now filed a charge sheet against two doctors, including the hospital owner, in connection with the incident. The charge sheet, which includes several serious allegations, was submitted to the Karkardooma Court.
Incident Overview
According to the Delhi Police, they received information about a fire and persons in danger at the Baby Care New Born Hospital on May 25, 2024, at 11:29 PM. Emergency responders, including police and fire brigade staff, quickly reached the two-story building. Despite their efforts, the fire claimed the lives of eight newborns.
Charge Sheet Details
The charge sheet names Dr. Naveen Khichi and Dr. Akash as the accused. The police have invoked sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with section 75 of the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act. The 1,000-page charge sheet includes a list of 80 prosecution witnesses and various pieces of evidence collected during the investigation.
Court Proceedings
The charge sheet was filed in the Karkardooma Court, where Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Vidhi Gupta Anand listed the matter for further hearing on August 2. Copies of the charge sheet have been provided to the counsel of the accused, Dr. Naveen Khichi and Dr. Akash, who were produced in court after the expiration of their judicial custody. The accused are represented by Advocate Naveen Kumar Singh and Advocate Satyam Singh.
Arrests and Judicial Custody
Dr. Naveen Khichi was arrested on May 26, 2024, followed by the arrest of Dr. Akash on May 27, 2024. An FIR was registered at the Vivek Vihar police station on May 26, 2024. The accused were initially placed in police custody before being sent to judicial custody. Dr. Akash’s bail plea was dismissed by the court on June 3, 2024. During their police custody, the police seized the DVR of the hospital’s CCTV footage and verified Dr. Akash’s medical degree.
Hospital Inspection Findings
The inspection of the hospital revealed several safety violations. The hospital lacked fire extinguishers, had improper entry and exit points, and employed a doctor with a BAMS degree instead of qualified pediatric specialists. The license issued to the hospital by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Government of NCT of Delhi, had expired on March 31, 2024. Despite this, the hospital was operating with 12 admitted newborns, exceeding the five-bed limit stipulated by the expired license.
Safety Violations and Licensing Issues
Further investigations revealed that Baby Care New Born Child Hospital had branches in Vivek Vihar, Punjabi Bagh, Faridabad, and Gurgaon. The owner, Dr. Naveen Khichi, an MD in pediatric medicine, resides in Paschim Vihar, Delhi, and runs the hospital along with his wife, Dr. Jagriti, a dentist. The absence of fire safety measures, such as fire extinguishers and emergency exits, was a significant factor in the fatalities.
Cause of the Fire
The probable cause of the fire is believed to be a short circuit. An Electric Inspection Report from the Labour Department’s Electric Inspector, Government of NCT of Delhi, is being obtained, along with a report from the Delhi Fire Services. The fire tender, Crime Team, and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team also reached the spot to assist in the investigation.
The Baby Care New Born Child Hospital fire case has highlighted severe lapses in hospital safety and regulatory compliance. As the legal proceedings continue, the Delhi Police have taken significant steps to hold the responsible parties accountable. The hearing scheduled for August 2, 2024, will further determine the course of action against the accused doctors.
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