Delhi Architect Shot by Ex-MLA Dies, Family Donates Her Kidneys

The woman, who was allegedly wounded by the ex-MLA’s celebratory gunshots at a New Year party, has died.

Delhi architect Archana Gupta, who was wounded by celebratory gunshots at a New Year's Eve party, succumbed to her injuries on Thursday, 3 January.

The celebratory gunshots were allegedly fired by BJP leader and ex-JDU MLA Raju Singh, at his farmhouse in south Delhi's Vasant Kunj. After absconding for a while, Singh was arrested on Thursday and sent to a seven-day police custody. His driver and wife, a former Member of Legislative Council from Bihar, have also been arrested, according to ANI.

What We Know

Archana Gupta, 42, was on life support at Fortis hospital in Vasant Kunj where she was admitted on the intervening night of 31 December and 1 January. The hospital had alerted the police about the injury to the woman’s head – allegedly caused by gunshot. She was declared dead on 2 January.

During the investigation, police reportedly recovered two rifles and 800 bullets from the farmhouse in Delhi on Wednesday, 2 January.

Hospital authorities said, "Till Wednesday, the patient continued to be in a critical state and on life support. Despite best efforts by our team of doctors, the patient could not be revived and was declared brain dead."

PTI reports that in his complaint to the police, Gupta's husband had said that they were at the farm house for New Year celebrations along with their friends when the incident occurred. He said that it was around midnight when two-three rounds were fired by Raju Singh. Soon after, he noticed that his wife had dropped to the ground and was bleeding.

Family Donates Her Kidneys

In a statement, hospital authorities added, "Her family, displaying enormous strength and grit in their hour of grief decided to donate her kidneys. A no-objection certificate was obtained from the Delhi Police since this is a medico-legal case."

"In this case, after the necessary approvals and the hospital-wise rota was decided by NOTTO, one kidney was sent to Apollo Hospital and the other given to Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj," a hospital spokesperson said.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)