Delhi HC Issues Notice On Plea Of Former MLA Prakash Jarwal Seeking Quashing Of His Conviction

The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice to the Delhi Police on a petition filed by former Aam Aadmi Party MLA Prakash Jarwal, who has challenged his conviction in the 2020 doctor’s suicide case.

Justice Amit Mahajan sought a response from the police and listed the matter for hearing on November 3.

Jarwal, convicted along with his associate Kapil Nagar in February 2024, is seeking the quashing of the trial court’s order that found them guilty of abetment to suicide and other related charges.

Conviction In Doctor’s Suicide Case

On February 28, 2024, Special Judge MK Nagpal of the Rouse Avenue Court convicted Jarwal and Nagar in connection with the death of Dr. Rajendra Singh, a water tanker operator.

The trial court held them guilty of abetment to suicide, extortion, attempted extortion, criminal intimidation, and criminal conspiracy. They were convicted under multiple provisions, including Section 306 (abetment of suicide), Sections 384 and 386 (extortion), Section 506 Part II (criminal intimidation with threat to kill), and Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.

The court concluded that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The maximum punishment under Section 506 Part II is up to seven years imprisonment.

A third accused, Harish Jarwal, was convicted only for criminal intimidation. The High Court has since quashed his conviction.

Allegations Against Jarwal

The FIR, registered on April 18, 2020, at Neb Sarai Police Station, was based on a complaint by Hemant Singh, the son of the deceased. He alleged that his father, who had been supplying water through tankers since 2005, was continuously harassed after Jarwal became an MLA and a member of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB).

According to the complaint-

Jarwal and Nagar allegedly demanded monthly payments to allow Singh’s tankers to operate with the DJB.

When Singh resisted, his tankers were removed from service and payments withheld.

He was threatened with destruction if he failed to comply.

The deceased documented the harassment and forced payments in a diary, supported by phone recordings.

Singh even sold ancestral land and mortgaged family jewellery to arrange money allegedly extorted at Jarwal’s instance.

The complainant also stated that his father, a heart patient, had repeatedly pleaded with Jarwal to stop the harassment, but to no avail.

Jarwal’s counsel, Senior Advocate N Hariharan, assisted by Advocate Siddharth Yadav, argued for setting aside the conviction. The High Court, while issuing notice, also reiterated its earlier direction to the trial court not to proceed with arguments on sentencing until the appeal is decided.

A related petition filed by co-convict Kapil Nagar is also pending before Justice Mahajan.

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