A Delhi court on Saturday convicted Raju Kumar Singh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Sahebganj in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, in connection with a 2018 New Year party firing case that resulted in the death of Dr Archana Gupta. The Rouse Avenue Court ordered that Singh be taken into custody immediately after the verdict.
Charges and Acquittals
Singh was found guilty under Section 304 Part II of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which pertains to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, as well as Section 30 of the Arms Act. However, the court acquitted his wife Renu Singh, along with Rana Rajesh Singh and Ramendra Singh, of all charges leveled against them.
Incident Details
The case stems from celebratory firing during a New Year party held on December 31, 2018, at a farmhouse in Fatehpur Beri, Delhi. Dr Archana Gupta was struck by a bullet in the head and succumbed to her injuries on January 3, 2019, at a hospital. An FIR was subsequently registered at the Fatehpur Beri police station.
Political Background of Raju Kumar Singh
Born on January 12, 1970, in Anandpur Kharauni village of Paru, Raju Kumar Singh is a four-time MLA from Sahebganj. He was appointed as a minister in the Bihar government on February 26, 2025. His political journey began in 2005 when he won his first election on a Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) ticket. Following a split in the party that same year, he joined the Janata Dal (United) and secured another victory in the October polls. He was re-elected in 2010.
In 2009, his wife Renu Singh became a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) from East Champaran as an Independent candidate. Singh later joined the BJP in 2015 but lost the assembly election that year. However, he made a comeback in 2020, winning on a Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) ticket. In 2022, he and two other VIP MLAs merged with the BJP.
Education and Wealth
Singh holds a Bachelor of Technology (BTech) degree from Maharashtra, completed in 1996, followed by a Master of Technology (MTech) and a PhD. According to his 2020 election affidavit, he declared an annual income of Rs 9 crore.
Criminal Record
Police records indicate that over ten criminal cases have been registered against Singh, including charges under the Arms Act and murder-related offenses. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he was accused of distributing money at a roadshow of Vaishali MP Veena Devi, leading to a case of violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
Pharmaceutical Business
The Singh family runs a pharmaceutical business with operations in Noida, Ahmedabad, and other major cities. They also export medicines to Russia and the United States. The family expanded its business into the Soviet Union during its breakup and economic downturn, building a multi-crore pharma empire.
Sentencing in the culpable homicide case is awaited.
