A court here on Thursday deferred the pronouncement of judgment in the high-profile Geetika Sharma suicide case to July 25.
Former Haryana Minister of State for HomeAffairs and Sirsa MLA Gopal Kanda has been charged with abetment to suicide, criminal intimidation and criminal conspiracy in the 11-year-old case.
Sharma, one of the employees at Mr. Kanda’s now-defunct MDLR Airlines, had allegedly died by suicide at her Ashok Vihar home on August 5, 2012.
She worked as an air hostess and was later made a director in one of Mr. Kanda’s corporate offices in Gurugram. In her suicide note, Sharma had blamed Mr. Kanda and one of his employees, Aruna Chadha, for harassment. Following her death, a case was registered at the Bharat Nagar police station under various sections of the IPC and the IT Act.
Rags to riches
Mr. Kanda ran a shoe store with his brother in Sirsa in the 1990s. He made a huge fortune through land deals and launched his airline company. He then warmed up to the then Chief Minister Bansi Lal but shifted his loyalty to the Chautalas after the Indian National Lok Dal came to power in 1999.
The BJP’s Haryana unit had refused his support for government formation in 2019 after the Assembly election threw up a hung verdict. His party has now been included in the National Democratic Alliance fold.
Those in distress may contact Sanjivini, Society for Mental Health suicide prevention helpline 011-40769002.
Published - July 21, 2023 01:14 am IST
