A Delhi court on Friday, 4 July 2025, reserved its order on the quantum of sentence to be imposed on Bihar Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Raju Kumar Singh, convicted for culpable homicide not amounting to murder in connection with the death of architect Dr Archana Gupta during celebratory firing at a New Year's Eve party in Vasant Kunj, Delhi, in 2018. The Rouse Avenue Court said it would pronounce the sentence on Saturday after considering submissions from both sides and a report submitted by the Probation Officer.

Background: The 2018 Vasant Kunj Incident

The case stems from the night of 31 December 2018, when a New Year's celebration was underway at a farmhouse in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. A bullet allegedly fired during celebratory gunfire struck Dr Archana Gupta, a practising architect, who subsequently succumbed to her injuries during treatment. An FIR was registered at Fatehpur Beri police station, following which Delhi Police arrested Singh and others in the course of the investigation.

Conviction and Co-Accused

Last month, the Rouse Avenue Court convicted Singh under Section 304 Part II of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 30 of the Arms Act, holding that his act of firing from a licensed pistol at a crowded gathering was carried out with the knowledge that it was likely to cause death. The court simultaneously acquitted his wife, Renu Singh, and two other co-accused — Rana Rajesh Singh and Ramendra Singh — extending them the benefit of doubt.

Defence Arguments for Leniency

Singh's counsel urged the court to impose the minimum sentence, presenting several mitigating factors. The defence noted that Singh is a six-time MLA and argued that a sentence exceeding two years could trigger disqualification from the legislature under the Representation of the People Act. It was submitted that while several criminal cases have been registered against the legislator, he has never previously been convicted in any of them, and that most cases were filed during election periods by political rivals — with Singh either acquitted or no chargesheet filed in several instances.

The defence also highlighted that no criminal case was registered against Singh before 2009, that his wife has served as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC), and that his father served as a village head for a decade. Counsel further argued that the deceased was like a sister-in-law to the family, that Singh's wife was present on the dance floor at the time of the incident, and that Singh had already spent approximately two months in jail. The defence stated that Singh had never attempted to influence or pressurise the victim's family during the trial and expressed regret over the incident.

Probation Officer's Report and Pending Cases

The Probation Officer placed a report before the court disclosing that Singh is also facing a murder case in Bihar, in which he has been granted bail by the Patna High Court. The court had sought this report in the previous hearing before proceeding to decide the quantum of sentence. The sentence will be pronounced on Saturday, with the court's decision expected to have significant implications for Singh's legislative standing.