Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Delhi High Court Rejects Bihar MLA’s Conviction Suspension Plea
The Delhi High Court decided not to pause Raju Kumar Singh’s conviction.
Singh is a BJP lawmaker from Bihar.
He was convicted after Archana Gupta died during celebratory gunfire at a New Year’s party in Delhi.
The trial court gave him four years in prison and imposed a Rs 25 lakh financial penalty.
Singh’s lawyers said the conviction could make him lose his legislative seat and stop him from contesting elections.
They also said important evidence, including forensic analysis, had been overlooked.
The High Court said it did not see an obvious serious mistake in the trial court’s decision.
It noted the alleged use of a firearm, the seriousness of the offence and Singh’s past cases.
His sentence had already been paused, but the conviction itself remains in place while his appeal is considered.
The Delhi High Court refused to suspend Bihar BJP MLA Raju Kumar Singh’s conviction over Archana Gupta’s death during celebratory firing.
Singh was convicted under Section 304 Part II of the IPC and Section 30 of the Arms Act.
A trial court sentenced him to four years’ imprisonment and ordered a Rs 25 lakh fine or compensation, with additional imprisonment for default.
Justice Manoj Jain said a surface-level review showed no manifest perversity or palpable error warranting suspension of the conviction.
The court cited the alleged firearm use, moral-turpitude element and Singh’s criminal antecedents, while his appeal remains pending.
- Who
- Bihar BJP MLA Raju Kumar Singh, the Delhi High Court led by Justice Manoj Jain, and the trial court.
- What
- The High Court refused to suspend Singh’s conviction for Archana Gupta’s death during celebratory firing.
- When
- The shooting occurred on the night of December 31, 2018, into January 1, 2019; the High Court order was passed on September 29 and reported on October 1.
- Where
- The party was held at Rose Farm House in Mandi village, Delhi; Singh represents Sahebganj in Bihar.
- Why
- The court found no apparent, palpable or manifest error requiring a stay and cited the offence’s moral-turpitude element and Singh’s antecedents.
Singh’s Arguments
Prosecution and Court’s Reasoning
Whether the conviction should be suspended
Singh’s Arguments
Singh’s lawyers argued that the conviction relied on unwarranted presumptions and overlooked material evidence, including forensic analysis.
Prosecution and Court’s Reasoning
The prosecution said conviction suspension is an exceptional remedy, and the court found no manifest perversity, palpable error or obvious illegality in the trial court’s decision.
Political consequences
Singh’s Arguments
Senior counsel Siddharth Luthra argued that the conviction could disqualify Singh as an MLA and bar him from contesting future elections under Section 8(3) of the Representation of the People Act.
Prosecution and Court’s Reasoning
The court said the claimed hardship was broadly stated rather than individual-specific and declined to suspend the conviction despite the possible electoral consequences.
Evidence and responsibility for the shooting
Singh’s Arguments
Singh’s side challenged the trial court’s interpretation of the evidence and forensic material.
Prosecution and Court’s Reasoning
The High Court observed that the record indicated Singh was using his pistol at the crucial moment and said it made little difference whether the bullet struck Gupta directly or after ricocheting.
Background and seriousness of the offence
Singh’s Arguments
Singh’s counsel highlighted his status as a sitting MLA and long political career.
Prosecution and Court’s Reasoning
The court cited the alleged use of a firearm while Singh was under the influence of liquor, the offence’s moral-turpitude element and his non-clean antecedents, while noting that some past cases ended in acquittal.
- Accused
- Raju Kumar Singh, a sitting Bihar BJP MLA from Sahebganj
- Deceased
- Archana Gupta, a guest at the New Year’s Eve party
- Conviction
- Culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 Part II of the IPC and a violation under Section 30 of the Arms Act
- Trial-court sentence
- Four years’ imprisonment under the IPC, plus two months under the Arms Act
- Financial penalty
- Rs 25 lakh fine or compensation; one report also states three additional months’ imprisonment for default
- High Court ruling
- Conviction-suspension application dismissed by Justice Manoj Jain
- Appeal status
- The criminal appeal was admitted and will be listed for consideration in due course
- Earlier relief
- The High Court had suspended Singh’s sentence on July 27, while refusing to suspend the conviction
