Justice – Bihar BJP MLA Found Guilty in New Year Celebratory Firing Death Case
Justice – A Delhi court has convicted Bihar BJP MLA Raju Kumar Singh in connection with the death of a woman who was struck by a bullet during New Year celebrations in the national capital more than seven years ago. The court held him guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and violations under the Arms Act, while directing that he be taken into custody. Three other accused, including his wife, were cleared of all charges.
Court Delivers Verdict in Long-Running Case
The judgment was delivered on Saturday by Special Judge Vishal Gogne at the Rouse Avenue Court. Singh was convicted under Section 304 Part II of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, along with provisions of the Arms Act related to misuse of firearms.
The court acquitted Renu Singh, Rana Rajesh Singh and Ramendra Singh, finding insufficient grounds to hold them criminally liable. Arguments regarding the sentence are scheduled to be heard on June 9, while the detailed judgment is yet to be released.
Incident Traced to New Year Celebration in 2018
The case stems from a New Year’s Eve gathering held on December 31, 2018, at a farmhouse in Mandi Village, New Delhi. According to investigators, Archana Gupta suffered a gunshot injury during the celebration and later succumbed to her injuries.
A complaint filed by her husband, Vikas Gupta, stated that the family had attended the event at the invitation of a long-time acquaintance. Around midnight, guests were celebrating the arrival of the new year when gunshots were allegedly fired into the air.
Eyewitness Account Became Key Evidence
During the investigation, Gupta told authorities that his wife had returned to the dance floor shortly after greeting him. He claimed that he witnessed Raju Singh and another individual, identified as Hari Singh, firing their weapons during the celebrations.
A few minutes later, another round of firing allegedly took place. Soon afterward, Archana Gupta collapsed. Witnesses rushed to her aid and noticed blood on her face before she was transported to a hospital for emergency treatment.
Despite medical efforts, she died on January 3, 2019. Following her death, investigators upgraded the case from attempted murder-related provisions to a murder investigation before the court later assessed the circumstances under culpable homicide provisions.
Investigation Uncovered Firearms Evidence
Police officers responding to the incident found indications that bloodstains at the venue had been cleaned. Investigators subsequently recovered spent cartridges from the location and seized additional ammunition and firearms during searches conducted at properties linked to the accused.
Authorities also recovered a .22 calibre pistol and live cartridges from Raju Singh after he and Hari Singh were apprehended in Uttar Pradesh on January 2, 2019. The vehicle in which they were travelling was also seized as part of the investigation.
Officials stated that evidence gathered during the probe pointed to Singh and his driver as the two individuals who had discharged firearms during the celebration.
Charges Were Framed After Court Review
In October 2023, the court formally framed charges after rejecting a plea seeking discharge from the case. At that stage, the court observed that sufficient preliminary material existed to proceed against the accused under various sections of criminal law and the Arms Act.
The postmortem examination conducted at AIIMS concluded that Archana Gupta died from a firearm-related head injury. The medical findings became a significant part of the prosecution’s case during the trial.
With the conviction now recorded, attention turns to the sentencing phase, where the court will determine the punishment to be imposed on the legislator.