BJP MLA Raju Singh sentenced to 4 years for fatal celebratory firing, faces disqualification
New Delhi: A Delhi court on Saturday sentenced six-time Sahebganj MLA Raju Kumar Singh to four years of rigorous imprisonment for a fatal celebratory firing incident on New Year's Eve 2018. The conviction, under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 30 of the Arms Act, puts the BJP legislator's Assembly membership at risk under the Representation of the People Act.
Special Judge Vishal Gogne of Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court had convicted Singh on June 6. On Saturday, the court also ordered him to pay Rs 25 lakh in compensation to the family of the deceased, Dr Archana Gupta, a 45-year-old guest who was struck by a bullet fired from Singh's licensed weapon during celebrations at his farmhouse in Fatehpur Beri.
In its judgment, the court observed, “The acts of celebratory firing during festivities are a scourge which often cause fatalities in our country. The present case reflects a similar tragedy where reckless celebratory firing by a multiple-term MLA caused the death of a guest.” The court rejected arguments for probation, noting that Singh, as an educated public servant, knew the potentially fatal consequences of discharging a live weapon into a crowded gathering.
Under Section 8(3) of the Representation of the People Act, a legislator sentenced to imprisonment of two years or more is disqualified from holding office unless the conviction is stayed by an appellate court. Singh's family said they are exploring all legal options. Bihar BJP media in-charge Danish Eqbal stated, “We respect the court’s verdict and will abide by it. We have full faith in the Constitution and the judiciary.”
Singh, born on January 12, 1970, has represented the Sahebganj constituency in Muzaffarpur district six times, switching parties across the shifting landscape of Bihar politics. He first won on a Lok Janshakti Party ticket in February 2005, then joined the Janata Dal (United) for the October 2005 and 2010 elections. After losing as a BJP candidate in 2015, he returned in 2020 on a Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) ticket and merged with the BJP in 2022. He holds B.Tech and M.Tech degrees from a university in Ukraine and a PhD from Maharashtra University.
If the conviction is not stayed, Sahebganj will become the latest Bihar constituency to require a bypoll due to an MLA's disqualification. Since the Supreme Court's 2013 judgment mandating immediate disqualification of convicted legislators sentenced to two years or more, several Bihar MLAs have lost their seats, including CPI(ML)'s Manoj Manzil (2024, murder case) and RJD's Anant Kumar Singh (2022, Arms Act).
