In a significant legal development, the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi has sentenced Raju Kumar Singh, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Sahebganj, Bihar, to four years of rigorous imprisonment. This sentence comes in connection with a tragic incident of celebratory firing that resulted in the death of a woman doctor during a New Year's Eve celebration. Along with the prison term, the court has also imposed a substantial fine of 25 lakh rupees on the legislator. The verdict was delivered by Special Judge Vishal Gogne, who had previously convicted the MLA in the case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The Incident and Legal Conviction
The case dates back to a New Year's Eve party held at a farmhouse in the Vasant Kunj area of South Delhi. ' Unfortunately, one of the bullets struck Dr. Archana Gupta, leading to her untimely demise. Following a prolonged legal battle, the court found the MLA guilty on June 6. The court convicted him under Section 304 (II) of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and Section 30 of the Arms Act, which deals with the punishment for contravention of license or rules. The judge concluded that it was indeed Raju Singh who fired the fatal shot that led to the doctor's death.
Defense Arguments and Scientific Claims
During the sentencing hearing, Raju Singh's legal team presented several arguments in an attempt to mitigate the punishment. His lawyer, Rajiv Mohan, argued that the incident was a result of a lack of scientific knowledge rather than a deliberate intent to harm. The defense claimed that Singh couldn't anticipate the parabolic path of the bullet, which led to the accidental shooting. "I fired the shot due to a lack of scientific information... this is a case of subjective negligence. I took all precautions but didn't understand the parabolic path of the bullet," the lawyer stated on behalf of the MLA. They further argued that the act wasn't morally depraved and requested the court to consider a sentence of less than two years.
Plea for Probation and Remorse
Senior advocate Nandita Rao, also representing Singh, cited a probation report and mentioned that the MLA had no prior convictions in other cases. She emphasized that while the incident at the farmhouse was grave, there was no criminal intent, while the defense highlighted that Singh's wife and children had immediately assisted the victim, taking her to the hospital in their own car, which they claimed showed a sense of responsibility and deep regret. Singh himself expressed remorse and sought an opportunity for reform. He also mentioned that while there are several cases against him filed by political opponents, none involved the misuse of weapons or firing in the air. The defense urged for a shorter sentence to help him retain his legislative seat.
Court's Final Verdict and Acquittals
Despite the pleas for leniency and probation under Section 4 of the Probation of Offenders Act 1958, the court proceeded with the four-year prison sentence. Following the announcement of the sentence, Raju Singh was immediately taken into judicial custody, as he had been out on bail since February 2019. In the same judgment, the court acquitted Singh's wife, Renu Singh, and two others who were accused of destroying evidence, while the court ruled that there was no concrete evidence to prove their involvement in tampering with the crime scene or hiding facts. The fine of 25 lakh rupees imposed on the MLA is one of the significant financial penalties seen in such cases involving public representatives.