Court Convicts Bihar BJP MLA Over Woman’s Death During 2018 Celebratory Firing

A Delhi court on Saturday convicted Bihar BJP MLA Raju Kumar Singh for culpable homicide in connection with a celebratory firing incident at a New Year party in 2018 that claimed the life of a woman.

The incident occurred at a farmhouse in Delhi’s Fatehpur Beri during celebrations on the intervening night of December 31, 2018, and January 1, 2019.

Special Judge Vishal Gogne held Singh guilty under Section 304 Part II of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and also convicted him under the Arms Act for violating the terms of his firearm licence. The court has listed the matter for sentencing arguments on June 9.

In its order, the court said Singh fired multiple rounds from his licensed .22-bore pistol in the midst of a crowded gathering where guests were dancing and celebrating. One of the bullets struck Archana Gupta, resulting in her death. The judge observed that celebratory firing remains a dangerous practice that frequently leads to fatalities and concluded that Singh’s actions were reckless enough to attract criminal liability.

The court said a person discharging a firearm in such circumstances must be aware that the act is likely to cause death or serious injury. It also found that Singh had breached a key condition of his arms licence, which did not permit the use of the weapon for celebratory firing.

While convicting the MLA, the court acquitted his wife Renu Singh and co-accused Ramendra Singh and Rana Rajesh Singh. They were accused of attempting to destroy evidence after the incident, including allegedly cleaning bloodstains from the dance floor. However, the court held that the prosecution failed to prove those allegations with sufficient evidence and extended them the benefit of doubt.