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 convicting him in the 2018 celebratory firing case that claimed the life of a woman during a New Year party in the national capital.Pronouncing the sentence, Special Judge Vishal Gogne 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.”The court also directed that the Rs 25 lakh fine be paid as compensation to the family of the deceased, Archana Gupta.The sentencing follows Singh’s conviction under Section 304 Part II of the Indian Penal Code, dealing with culpable homicide not amounting to murder with knowledge, along with provisions of the Arms Act for violating licence conditions.A day before the sentencing, Singh had sought release on probation, arguing that he did not intend to cause the victim’s death and citing his otherwise unblemished record as an elected representative.The case stems from a celebratory firing incident at a farmhouse in Delhi’s Fatehpur Beri during a New Year celebration on the intervening night of December 31, 2018, and January 1, 2019. Archana Gupta, one of the guests, died after being struck by a bullet. In its 97-page judgment delivered on June 6, the court highlighted the dangers posed by celebratory gunfire.”The acts of celebratory firing during festivities are a scourge which often cause fatalities in our country,” the order said.Referring to the facts of the case, the court further observed, “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.”While analysing the evidence, the court concluded that multiple eyewitnesses had identified Singh as the person who fired the bullet that fatally struck Archana Gupta.
