Baby Care New Born Child Hospital fire case: After taking cognizance, court transfers case to district judge for hearing

New Delhi [India], August 2 : Delhi's Karkardooma Court on Friday transferred (Committal) Baby Care New Born Child Hospital Fire case to the District Judge (Shahadara) for further hearing. The judicial magistrate has taken cognisance of the charge sheet. Delhi Police had filed a charge sheet against two doctors, including the owner of the hospital.
This incident occurred on the night of May 25 in Vivek Vihar. In this incident, 8 newborn babies died.
Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Vidhi Gupta Anand was directed to place the case before the District Judge on August 8.
Delhi police filed a charge sheet against hospital owner Dr. Naveen Khichi and Dr. Akash.
Delhi police have invoked section 304, 308, 34 IPC and Section 75 of JJ Act.
As per police Khichi was arrested on May 26 and Akash was arrested on May 27, 2024.
After investigation Delhi police have filed a charge sheet containing 1000 pages. Police have annexed a list of 80 Prosecution witness and evidence collected during investigation.
An FIR was registered at Vivek Vihar police station on May 26, 2024 in this incident. Accused were sent to judicial custody after police custody.
Dr. Akash had moved a bail plea which was dismissed by the court on June 3.
Earlier, the police were granted three days police custody to seize the DVR of CCTV and check the medical degree of Akash.
As per Delhi police, On May 25, 2024 at 11.29 pm, an information regarding fire in hospital and persons are in danger was received. Thereafter, police staff and fire brigade staff reached on the spot at Baby Care New Born hospital, Vivek Vihar where fire was seen in two storey building.
With the help of fire brigade staff, 12 infants were rescued from nursing station. After dousing the fire, hospital was inspected and there were burst oxygen cylinders found, police had said.
Rescued infants were shifted to other hospital East Delhi Advance NICU, Vivek Vihar, Delhi and later on dead infants were sent to GTB Hospital mortuary for autopsy, it added.
On inspection of the hospital and examination of nursing staff, it was found that there was no fire extinguisher, improper entry exit, absence of an emergency exit, deployment of a BAMS doctor, etc, penal section 304/308 IPC was invoked.
It was found that the licence issued to the Baby Care New Born Child Hospital by DGHS, Govt. of NCT of Delhi, has already expired on March 31, 2024.
Even as per the expired license (issued to the said Hospital) was allowed for 5 Beds only, but at the time of incident 12 new born child were admitted in the Hospital, the police had said.
The Doctors are not qualified/ competent to treat the new born child in need of Neo-Natal Incentive care, as they are BAMS degree holders only, it added.
There is no Fire Extinguisher installed in the said Hospital for emergency condition in case of eruption of fire, it had further said.
There is no emergency exit in the Hospital in case of any untoward incident, it had added.
During the course of the investigation, it was found that the 'Baby Care New Born Child Hospital' has 4 branches in Vivek Vihar, Punjabi Bagh, Delhi, Faridabad and Gurgaon. The owner of the said hospital is Dr Naveen Khichi, a resident of Bhera Enclave, Pachim Vihar, Delhi. He is an MD in paediatric medicine. He and his wife, Dr Jagriti (a dentist), are running the hospital. The fire tender, crime team and FSL team reached at the spot. The probable cause of fire is stated to be short circuit. Electric Inspection Report from the Electric Inspector ( Labour Department) Govt of NCT of Delhi, D-Block, Shamnath Marg is being obtained. Report is also being obtained from the Delhi Fire Services, police had said.