A Delhi Court on Monday ruled on the 2012 Geetika Sharma suicide case, acquitting the accused HLP (Haryana Lokhit Party) president Gopal Kanda. While a detailed copy of the court order is still not out yet, the Additional Sessions Judge Vikas Dhull also acquitted Aruna Chadha, the second person accused in the suicide case of the air hostess.
Timeline of the case
Geetika Sharma was an air hostess working under Gopal Kanda’s MLDR Airlines. She was later promoted to the position of director in one of the offices of Mr. Kanda. On 5th August 2012, she was found dead at her residence in Ashok Vihar, northwest Delhi. Sharma left a suicide note behind which declared that she was taking her life because of the ‘harassment’ she faced at the hands of Kanda and his aide Aruna Chadha.
After the incident, a case was registered against Mr Gopal Kanda under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the IT Act in Bharat Nagar police station. Six months after Geetika’s death, her mother also committed suicide.
While the case proceeded, Kanda had to resign from his post as the Minister of State for Home in Haryana during the rule of the congress government (led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda).
Kanda was facing several charges under different sections of the IPC (Indian Penal Code) including Abetment of Suicide (section 306), Criminal Intimidation (section 506), Destruction of Evidence (section 201), Criminal Conspiracy (section 120B), and Forgery (section 466).
Furthermore, he was also facing charges of rape and unnatural sex (sections 376 and 377 respectively), as framed by the trial court. The Delhi High Court later revoked these charges.
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS (2012)
August 5
Geetika Sharma’s body was discovered hanging at her residence. On the same day, a suicide note was recovered from Geetika’s house, pointing to Kanda as the one responsible for her death. Following this revelation, a case was filed against Kanda by the police. Subsequently, he stepped down from his position as the minister of state for the home.
August 7
Kanda was summoned by the police for questioning. During the interrogation, he refuted all the allegations levied against him.
August 8
On this day, the police arrested Aruna Chadha, the MDLR manager and a co-accused in the case. At the same time, the police declared Kanda as absconding, as he was not present at his known locations. Kanda, seeking legal protection, applied for anticipatory bail.
August 9
In a bid to trace Kanda, a lookout notice was issued, and his residence was subjected to a thorough search.
August 17
The court rejected Kanda’s plea for bail, intensifying the legal proceedings against him.
August 18
Finally, Kanda surrendered himself at the Ashok Vihar police station in Delhi, in connection with the case.
Kanda acquitted due to a lack of sufficient evidence
The judge stated that the prosecution failed to prove the charges against Kanda and Chadha ‘beyond all reasonable doubt. The court asked both accused to pay Rs 1 lakh in personal bond and also demanded them to stay present in case the police decided to go against their acquittal.
After the judgement, Kanda gave a statement to the media saying that the entire case was ‘made up’ and asked people to read the court order to understand the case entirely.
