Delhi HC Refuses to Stay Conviction of BJP MLA Raju Kumar Singh in 2018 Firing Case
The Delhi High Court has refused to stay the conviction of Bihar BJP MLA Raju Kumar Singh in connection with a 2018 celebratory firing incident at a farmhouse in Delhi's Fatehpur Beri area that led to the death of a woman.
Justice Manoj Jain dismissed the application moved by the Sahebganj legislator seeking the suspension of his conviction, observing that a preliminary examination of the record showed no "manifest perversity" or "palpable error" in the trial court's findings. In the judgment passed on September 29, the court pointed to Mr. Singh's criminal antecedents and noted that the offence involved an element of moral turpitude.
The court observed that the appellant was allegedly under the influence of liquor, used a firearm, and engaged in celebratory firing despite being fully aware of the consequences of such an act. Addressing arguments regarding his background, the court stated that although Mr. Singh had secured acquittals in several previous cases, he could not be considered to have a clean record.
The case stems from the death of Archana Gupta, who was shot during a New Year's Eve gathering at the Fatehpur Beri farmhouse on December 31, 2018. In June, Mr. Singh was convicted under Section 304 Part II of the Indian Penal Code, which addresses culpable homicide not amounting to murder committed with knowledge of the likelihood of causing death, as well as provisions under the Arms Act relating to breaches of licence conditions.
Following the conviction, a trial court sentenced Mr. Singh on July 4 to four years of simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹25 lakh. Criticising the practice of celebratory gunfire, the trial court noted that society requires neither a "Singham nor a Pushpa in a State governed by the rule of law."
The Delhi High Court had previously suspended Mr. Singh's sentence on July 27, but noted that such an order does not automatically halt the conviction itself. Mr. Singh's counsel had argued for the stay on grounds that the sitting MLA has a long political career and faces disqualification along with a ban on contesting future elections if the conviction remains operative.
