New Delhi: The Rouse Avenue court on Wednesday convicted Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Prakash Jarwal and his associate Kapil Nagar for their involvement in the suicide of a doctor in south Delhi in 2020, news agency PTI reported.
The incident took place on April 18, 2020, when 52-year-old Rajendra Singh took his life in Durga Vihar. The court found Jarwal, who represents the Deoli assembly constituency, guilty of abetting the suicide, stating that the prosecution had provided “substantial evidence” against him.
The court is scheduled to deliberate on the sentencing on March 13.
According to the report, Singh's suicide note explicitly implicated Jarwal in compelling him to take such a drastic step. Based on the note, the police filed a case against Jarwal, citing allegations of extortion and abetment to suicide.
Additionally, the duo has been found guilty of conspiring to extort and threatening the deceased doctor, news agency ANI reported.
Special judge MK Nagpal pronounced Prakash Jarwal and Kapil Nagar guilty of abetment to suicide, extortion, attempted extortion, criminal intimidation, and criminal conspiracy for extortion. Under section 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), they face a maximum penalty of up to seven years in prison.
The third accused, Harish Jarwal, has been convicted of criminal intimidation.
Previously, on November 11, 2021, the court had formally charged Prakash Jarwal, Kapil Nagar, and Harish with various sections of the IPC.
“The offences under Sections 120 B IPC read with Sections 386 (extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt), 384 (extortion) and 506 (Criminal intimidation) and offences under Section 384 read with Section 120 B (Criminal Conspiracy) IPC, Section 386 read with Section 120 B IPC and Section 506 read with Section 120 B IPC and also under 306/34 IPC are prima facie made out against the accused Prakash Jarwal and Kapil Nagar,” the court had said in its order, as reported by ANI.