M A I N   N E W S

Kanda to be quizzed today in suicide case
Shaurya Karanbir Gurung/TNS

New Delhi, August 7
The Delhi police will question Haryana Minister Gopal Kanda on Wednesday in the alleged suicide case of former MDLR group employee Geetika Sharma.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (North West) Dr P Karunakarn said the police questioned legal adviser of the MDLR Group Ankit Ahluwalia on Tuesday. It had issued a notice to MDLR official Aruna Chadha, but she didn’t appear for questioning today.

When asked about the evidence against Ahluwalia, Joint Commissioner of Police (Northern Range) TS Luthra, said, “We are examining the evidence and trying to establish links.”

Karunakarn said the police was collecting evidence against Gopal Kanda before questioning him.

Geetika’s laptop has been sent for a forensic examination. The police would also examine her mobile phone call record. Investigators are also likely to question her family members tomorrow.

The Delhi Police, which had registered a case of abetment to suicide against Gopal Kanda and MDLR Group’s human resources manager Aruna Chadha, today added a fresh charge of criminal intimidation against Kanda, who is also the chairman of the company.

The police added the charge after Geetika’s mother Anuradha Sharma mentioned in the FIR that she had spoken to Gopal Kanda over the telephone on August 4 and that he had confirmed that Aruna wanted Geetika to sign some documents, failing which a police case would be lodged against her.

Geetika committed suicide on Sunday at her North West Delhi’s Ashok Vihar residence.

In a suicide note found there, she had allegedly mentioned that Chadha and Gopal Kanda were “responsible” for her death.

Both of them were later charged with abetment to suicide.

The police plans to send the suicide note to a handwriting expert to ascertain if it was actually written by Geetika.

Geetika’s family has demanded a CBI probe into the case.

Raid on Gurgaon MDLR office
Sumedha Sharma/TNS

Gurgaon, August 7
The Delhi Police today raided the Gurgaon-based defunct office of the MDLR Airlines owned by former Haryana Minister of State Gopal Goyal Kanda. The raids were conducted as part of the investigation into the suicide case of former MDLR air hostess Geetika Sharma. The police reportedly seized some documents from the MDLR office.

In her suicide note, Geetika has accused Kanda of harassing her. Besides questioning Aruna Chadha, who has also been named in suicide note as an abettor and booked by the Delhi Police under Section 306 of the IPC (abetment to suicide) along with Kanda, the police has asked Ankit Ahluwalia, legal adviser of the company, to join the investigation.

“We have been questioning company employees and it appears the charges levelled by Geetika’s family against Kanda are not false. Kanda was very well known to Geetika and she climbed her way up pretty soon and held premier positions,” an official said.

The police has also questioned women employees of the company to ascertain the former minister’s conduct.

In a statement issued yesterday, coordination chief of the MDLR Group Aruna Chadha had condoled the death of Geetika Sharma and welcomed the investigation into the case.

“The MDLR Group is an established corporate company having various businesses such as aviation, hospitality, education, real estate etc. Geetika has been a very important member of the organisation and her death has come as a shock to the organisation and to me personally. Geetika was respected and liked in the organisation and was handling an important portfolio for the company. In fact, the company was also funding her further education. She had not been coming to the office for the past two months,” the statement said.

“Therefore, this unfortunate incident has come as a shock to us all. As the police investigation is on, we all hope and pray that the truth comes out soon. The organisation and all its employees are fully cooperating with the police and we are always available for extending all help in the matter. We are sure that justice will prevail,” the statement read.