Bihar BJP MLA gets 4-year jail term in 2018 firing case, Assembly membership at risk
A Delhi court has sentenced Bihar BJP MLA Raju Kumar Singh to four years in prison in connection with a celebratory firing incident in 2018
A Delhi court has sentenced Bihar BJP MLA Raju Kumar Singh to four years in prison in connection with a celebratory firing incident in 2018 that led to the death of a woman doctor, putting his membership of the Bihar Legislative Assembly at risk. The Rouse Avenue Court convicted Singh under Section 304 Part II of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 30 of the Arms Act. Along with the four-year jail term under the IPC, the court also awarded him a separate two-month sentence under the Arms Act.
Read Full Story The court directed Singh to pay Rs 25 lakh as compensation to the victim's family. It also ordered that if he fails to pay the amount, he will have to undergo an additional three months in jail. The case relates to an incident on December 31, 2018, when a celebratory firing took place at Singh's farmhouse in Delhi's Vasant Kunj during New Year celebrations. During the firing, Dr Archana Gupta sustained a bullet injury.
She was taken to hospital but later died during treatment. Following the incident, the Delhi Police investigated the case and filed a chargesheet against Singh. After completing the trial, the Rouse Avenue Court convicted him and has now pronounced the sentence. Singh is currently the BJP MLA from the Sahebganj Assembly constituency in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district. He won the 2020 Bihar Assembly election on a Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) ticket and later joined the BJP. Since Singh has been sentenced to more than two years in prison, his conviction could lead to the termination of his Assembly membership and his disqualification under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
However, the legal position could change if a higher court stays either his conviction or sentence. If no such relief is granted, the Sahebganj Assembly constituency will require a by-election. Ends
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