NEW DELHI/SIRSA(HAR), Aug 10:
Former Haryana Minister Gopal Kanda, accused of abetting suicide of a former employee, dodged police for the third day today even as fresh raids were conducted at his premises and close relatives questioned to trace him.
There was speculation that Kanda may surrender before a Delhi court on Monday. Asked about this, his brother, Govind, said no decision has been taken as yet.
Geetika (23), a former air hostess with Kanda’s now defunct MDLR airline, was found hanging in her flat in north west Delhi on Sunday.
In a suicide note found at her residence, Geetika said she was ending her life due to harassment by Kanda and MDLR official Aruna Chaddha. Both Kanda and Aruna have denied the allegations.
Kanda, an Independent MLA who held Home, Urban Bodies and Industry and Commerce portfolios, resigned the following day.
Fresh raids were conducted at Kanda’s residence in Sirsa in Haryana last night and his premises in Delhi. His close relatives were also questioned but he could not be located, a senior police official said.
A police party headed by ACP Shailender Singh searched the former Minister’s Rania Road house in Sirsa last night, officials said today. This is the second such raid within 24 hours at the sprawling mansion of Kanda.
Kanda’s anticipatory bail plea to avoid arrest in the case was yesterday rejected by a Delhi court, which said the charges against him were serious and that he may hamper the probe.
Kanda, who is accused of abetment to suicide and criminal intimidation, has refused to appear for questioning before the Delhi Police.
“The allegations against Kanda are grave and serious in nature. There are allegations of calls being made from other phone and SMSs have been sent to her and all this is required to be investigated thoroughly,” Additional Sessions Judge Rajnish Bhatnagar had said in Delhi.
In Chandigarh, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said Kanda should join the investigations in connection with the suicide case.
“Kanda should cooperate with the probe agencies like a law abiding citizen,” Hooda told reporters here after being told that Kanda had gone into hiding.
On being pressed that Kanda is deliberately evading arrest, the Chief Minister said that “anybody (whose name crops up in any case) not joining the investigations is unfair.”
“As a law abiding citizen one should assist in the probe,” he stressed.
On being asked whether Haryana police is sheltering Kanda, Hooda shot back, “he was a minister in my Government and now he has resigned.”
“You (media) tell me where he is,” he said after being quizzed about Kanda’s whereabouts since the registeration of case by Delhi police.
“The case is with Delhi police…Law will take its own course,” he said.
Police has received Geetika’s post mortem report, which was being studied, a senior officer said. (PTI)
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel