The sentence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Prakash Jarwal, who was found guilty of aiding and abetting the 2020 suicide of 52-year-old doctor Rajendra Singh, has been postponed by a Delhi court. The proceedings were postponed after Jarwal’s legal team notified the court that an appeal had been filed against his conviction in the Delhi High Court. On Friday, Special Judge Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Court was supposed to hear arguments on the amount of sentence. The court has set the sentencing date for March 17 because the appeal is scheduled to be heard on March 6.
The case centers on the untimely death of Dr. Rajendra Singh, who committed suicide on April 18, 2020, in Durga Vihar. A case was filed against the Deoli constituency MLA after Singh claimed in his suicide note that Jarwal had coerced him into ending his life. Charges of extortion, criminal conspiracy, criminal intimidation, and aiding suicide were based on Singh’s allegations. After an investigation, Jarwal was taken into custody and found guilty.
The prosecution successfully proved its case against Prakash Jarwal, and the court declared him guilty of all charges on February 28. The court determined that Singh’s grief and eventual suicide were caused by Jarwal’s acts. Because a public figure, an elected lawmaker, was involved in such serious offences, the case had garnered attention.
Following extensive processes and consideration of the evidence—including Singh’s suicide note and other testimonies—the court decided to convict Jarwal. In addition to aiding and abetting suicide, the court found Jarwal guilty of extortion, criminal conspiracy, and criminal intimidation, all of which exacerbated the doctor’s severe misery. The case brought to light the possible risks of coercion and harassment by those in positions of authority.
The legal struggle is still ongoing, with the Delhi High Court currently slated to hear the appeal. The appeal’s verdict will be important in deciding whether Jarwal’s conviction is upheld or if the verdict is altered. The court will determine the proper punishment based on the outcome of the appeals process at the sentencing hearing, which is still set for March 17.
SOURCE :
INDIAN EXPRESS
