Bihar BJP MLA convicted in case of celebratory firing that claimed woman’s life

A Delhi court on Saturday (June 6, 2026) convicted Raju Kumar Singh, BJP MLA from Bihar’s Sahebganj Assembly segment, in a case of the death of a woman during celebratory firing on New Year’s Eve in 2018 in Delhi.

Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Courts held Mr. Singh guilty for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and for violating arms licence conditions. Mr. Singh’s wife Renu Singh, and two others are were acquitted of charges related to destruction of evidence, citing the absence of material proof.

Rajiv Mohan, counsel for the MLA, told The Hindu that the court directed that Singh be taken into custody and scheduled arguments on sentencing for June 9.

The matter pertains to an FIR lodged in connection with an incident at Mr. Singh’s farmhouse in Fatehpur Beri, where he allegedly fired shots into the air during a New Year celebration. One of the bullets allegedly struck Archana Gupta, 45, who later died while undergoing treatment.

Police recovered a rifle and live cartridges from the farmhouse and added a murder charge to the FIR.

The court, in October 2023, framed charges of culpable homicide against the MLA, observing that there was no evidence of intent to cause death, though Mr. Singh was aware that firing in a crowded gathering could endanger lives.

Following the incident, Mr Singh, his driver and a co-accused fled the scene and were later arrested in Uttar Pradesh. During the investigation, witness statements led to allegations that bloodstains at the venue were cleaned up after the shooting.