Key facts
- BJP MLA Raju Kumar Singh sentenced to four years in jail
- Case involves death caused by celebratory firing
- Conviction by a Delhi court
- Lawmakers sentenced to 2+ years face potential disqualification under law
A Delhi court sentenced BJP MLA Raju Kumar Singh to four years in prison on Wednesday in a case arising from a death caused by celebratory firing. The verdict, reported by The New Indian Express, makes Singh one of the relatively rare sitting legislators to face a custodial sentence in India's criminal justice system.
Celebratory firing — the discharge of firearms during weddings, festivals, or political celebrations — has long been a deadly practice in parts of north India, resulting in numerous accidental deaths and injuries each year despite periodic crackdowns by authorities. The case against Raju Kumar Singh centred on such an incident, in which an individual was killed as a result of the gunfire.
The sentencing of a sitting Member of the Legislative Assembly carries political weight beyond the legal outcome. Under the Representation of the People Act, a legislator convicted and sentenced to two or more years in prison is disqualified from holding office — meaning Singh's legislative membership now faces a legal challenge, though the convicted lawmaker retains the right to appeal the sentence.
The case adds to a series of high-profile convictions of elected representatives in recent years, reflecting growing judicial assertiveness in holding public figures to account. The BJP is yet to make a formal statement on the verdict.