What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
Former Haryana Minister Gopal Kanda and his company’s employee Aruna Chadha are acquitted in the Geetika Sharma suicide case, raising questions about the prosecution’s evidence
NEW DELHI: Haryana former Minister Gopal Goyal Kanda and his company’s employee Aruna Chadha got the acquittal as the court observed that the prosecution has failed to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
The court of Special Judge Vikas Dhull also ordered both – Kanda and Chadha – to submit ₹1 lakh each of personal bonds.
After the acquittal, Kanda expressed his happiness and said, “Read the court order and you will understand that everything was made up against me.”
FLASH: Delhi court acquits former Haryana minister Gopal Kanda in airhostess Geetika Sharma abetment of suicide case
In 2012, Sharma, working in the airlines owned by Kanda, had committed suicide at her home in Ashok Vihar, reports @AlokReporter pic.twitter.com/WRfmNPnPPJ
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) July 25, 2023
Geetika Sharma, who was working for MDLR Airlines, owned by Kanda, tragically committed suicide at her home in Delhi’s Ashok Vihar on August 5, 2012. In her suicide note, she named Kanda and senior manager Aruna Chadha responsible for her extreme step.
The court, while giving its judgement, observed that Chadha and Geetika were very close friends and Geetika used to share everything with her.
“The friendship of Geetika with Chadha was not a casual one, as the deceased used to share with Chadha her personal secrets. Geetika trusted Chadha to the extent that she had shared about her pregnancy with Chadha and had sought her help in getting the same aborted.”
“Therefore, there is a strong possibility that Chadha might know about the person who was having physical relations with deceased Geetika Sharma,” said the court order, a copy of which is with The New Indian.
They further observed, “The possibility of Chadha and Gopal Goyal Kanda disclosing this fact to the mother of deceased Geetika Sharma in a telephonic conversation on 03.08.2012 and 04.08. 2012 respectively, being the well-wishers of the family or out of jealousy, which led to a quarrel between the mother of deceased Geetika and Geetika Sharma on her return from Mumbai on 04.08.2012 and thereafter, deceased Geetika Sharma committed suicide, cannot be ruled out.”
The court in its order further said, “The prosecution has failed to prove an offence under Section 306 (abetment of suicide) read with 120-B IPC that accused persons, pursuant to criminal conspiracy, had created such circumstances to which Geetika had no option but to commit suicide…”
The Delhi Police had registered a case against them under charges of abetment of suicide, forgery, criminal intimidation, and destruction of evidence. During the investigation, police added sections on rape and unnatural sex, which were later quashed by the high court.
Six months after Geetika’s suicide, her mother, Anuradha Sharma, also took her own life.
Kanda and Chadha were arrested and spent over one and a half years in jail. Both Kanda and Chadha were bailed out in 2014.
ALSO READ: Ex-Haryana mantri Gopal Kanda acquitted in Geetika Sharma suicide case
Geetika’s death garnered national headlines due to the involvement of Kanda, who was the then-home minister of Haryana in the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government. Kanda had to resign from his post.
Currently, Kanda is the chief of the Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP) and an MLA from Sirsa. He supports the current BJP and JJP-led government in Haryana.
