A Delhi court sentenced Bihar BJP MLA Raju Kumar Singh to four years’ simple imprisonment and imposed a Rs 25 lakh fine in the 2018 celebratory firing case that killed a woman. He was also awarded two months’ imprisonment under the Arms Act for licence violations.
A Delhi court on Saturday sentenced Bihar BJP MLA Raju Kumar Singh to four years’ simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 25 lakh after holding him guilty in the 2018 celebratory firing case that resulted in the death of a woman during a New Year party in the national capital.
Special Judge Vishal Gogne, while pronouncing the sentence, directed that Singh undergo four years of simple imprisonment for the offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 Part II of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The court also sentenced him to two months’ imprisonment under the Arms Act for violating the conditions of his firearm licence.
Pronouncing the sentence, the judge said,
“The convict is sentenced to 4 years simple imprisonment under Section 304 part II of the IPC and 2 months imprisonment under the Arms Act.”
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In addition to the prison term, the court imposed a fine of Rs 25 lakh, directing that the entire amount be paid as compensation to the family of the deceased, Archana Gupta, who lost her life after being struck by a bullet during the incident.
The sentence comes a day after Singh was convicted under Section 304 Part II IPC, which deals with culpable homicide not amounting to murder committed with the knowledge that the act is likely to cause death, along with offences under the Arms Act relating to breach of licence conditions.
Before the sentence was pronounced, Singh had urged the court to release him on probation. Through his counsel, he argued that the firing was not intended to kill anyone and submitted that he had maintained an otherwise unblemished public record during his tenure as an elected representative. The court, however, declined to grant the relief and proceeded to impose a custodial sentence.
The prosecution case dates back to the intervening night of December 31, 2018, and January 1, 2019, when a New Year celebration was being held at a farmhouse in Fatehpur Beri in South Delhi.
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According to the prosecution, Raju Kumar Singh allegedly fired his licensed weapon into the air as part of the celebrations. During the firing, a bullet struck Archana Gupta, one of the guests attending the party. She sustained fatal injuries and later succumbed, leading to the registration of a criminal case against the legislator.
The incident once again drew attention to the recurring problem of celebratory firing at weddings, festivals and social gatherings, where reckless use of firearms has often resulted in serious injuries and fatalities.
In its detailed 97-page judgment delivered on June 6, the trial court strongly condemned the practice of celebratory gunfire, describing it as a dangerous and recurring threat to public safety.
The court observed,
“The acts of celebratory firing during festivities are a scourge which often cause fatalities in our country,”
Referring specifically to the present case, the judgment stated:
“The present case reflects a similar tragedy where alleged acts of reckless celebratory firing by accused 1 (Raju Kumar Singh), a multiple-term MLA from Bihar, caused the death of a guest in a New Year’s party on the intervening night of December 31, 2018, and January 1, 2019.”
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While evaluating the evidence, the court noted that the prosecution had successfully established Singh’s involvement through the testimony of multiple eyewitnesses who consistently identified him as the person who fired the shot that fatally struck Archana Gupta.
After examining the oral evidence, forensic material and the surrounding circumstances, the court concluded that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that Singh’s reckless act resulted in the victim’s death. It held that although there was no intention to commit murder, the accused possessed the knowledge that such an act was likely to cause death, thereby attracting liability under Section 304 Part II IPC.
The judgment serves as another judicial reminder of the grave consequences of celebratory firing and underscores that the misuse of licensed firearms, even during festive occasions, can attract serious criminal liability when it results in loss of human life.
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