New Delhi: A Delhi court on Monday ordered the framing of charges against former Bihar MLA Raju Singh, his wife and two others in a case of celebratory firing during a New Year's Eve party at a farmhouse here in which a woman died.
"The act of accused Raju Singh in firing from his licensed pistol at the New Year's party shows that he had the knowledge that firing in a crowded party may cause the death of some person. Therefore, accused Raju Singh is prima facie liable to be charged under section 304 (Part II) of the IPC and under section 30 of the Arms Act," Special Judge Vikas Dhull said.
The judge also ordered the framing of charges for the destruction of evidence against Raju Singh's wife Ranu Singh and his associates Ramendra Singh and Rana Rajesh Singh. He said there were prima facie materials on record to frame charges against Ramendra Singh and Rana Rajesh Singh under sections 201 (destruction of evidence) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC and against Renu Singh under section 201 of the IPC.
Advocate Nitesh Rana, appearing for the politician, opposed the framing of the charges, saying the prosecution lacked the evidence to make its case against him. The celebratory firing incident occurred at the politician's farmhouse here on December 31, 2018. The accused were booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Arms Act. The police later added section 302 (murder) of the IPC, which is punishable with a maximum term of death sentence, to the FIR after the victim succumbed to bullet injuries.
