Who is Naveen Kichi? The man at the center of the controversy in Delhi hospital fire

A fire broke out in a hospital in Delhi's Vivek Vihar on Saturday. The fire in the Baby Care New Born hospital claimed lives of seven newborns. Later the Delhi Police arrested its owner, Naveen Kichi, under sections 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 304A (causing death by negligence) at Vivek Vihar police station.

As per the hospital's website, Naveen Kichi is the director at the hospital and is also a senior pediatric.

According to news website, The Print, Kichi is also facing another case dating back to 2021 for "criminal intimidation and voluntarily causing grievous hurt to a patient (a newborn), besides cruelty to a child (Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act)". He was granted bail in that case.


Meanwhile, the Delhi government also ordered a Magisterial enquiry into the Vivek Vihar New Born Baby Care Hospital fire incident.

Additional Chief Secretary directed District Magistrate, Shahadra to ascertain the circumstances that led to the fire tragedy and to fix the responsibility on the persons responsible for the said incident.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Shahdara, Surendra Chaudhary earlier today said that hospital had permission for up to five beds but they installed more than 10 beds.

"We came to know that the NOC of the hospital had also expired on March 31 and the hospital had permission for up to 5 beds but they had installed more than 10 beds. Apart from this, they did not have a fire exit system. So in view of all this, we have added sections 304 and 308 of IPC in FIR and we have arrested its director, Dr Naveen Kichi. One of the doctors who was on duty, Dr Akash, has also been arrested. The accused have 3 such clinics in Delhi," police official told ANI.

Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Sunday directed Health Secretary Deepak Kumar and Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to ensure compensation to the families of the deceased in the Vivek Vihar fire incident that claimed the lives of the newborns.

Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that whoever is responsible for this negligence will not be spared.

With Agency Inputs