New Delhi, August 24
The Delhi Police on Friday claimed to have pieced together the jigsaw puzzle of the suicide of air hostess Geetika Sharma and the alleged role of Haryana ex-minister Gopal Goyal Kanda in the case.

Geetika (23), who earlier worked in Kanda's now-defunct MDLR Airlines, had hanged herself on the night of Aug 4-5 at her house here. Her suicide notes said she was committing suicide due to harassment by Kanda, now a key accused in the case, and his key aide Aruna Chadha. Both denied the allegations.

The police said on Friday that a series of events led Geetika to end her life, including “exploitation and harassment” by her employer. She wanted to sever all relations with Kanda and his airlines, but the Sirsa MLA was adamant to retain her, police said. Geetika had worked in several of Kanda's companies in the last six years.

“After questioning Kanda over the past week, the case has become almost clear. It is evident that exploitation at the hands of Kanda put a lot of pressure on Geetika. She wanted to leave the company and did, but he was pressuring her to come back and re-join,” Northwest District Police Chief P Karunakaran told reporters here.

After Kanda's airline ceased to function in 2009, Geetika joined Emirates Airlines. He allegedly sent a forged letter through email to the Dubai-based airline accusing her of fraud, which cost Geetika her job and she returned to India.

Karunakaran said the police have collected fresh evidence against Kanda following persistent questioning during custodial interrogation.

Police sources said two more employees of MDLR’s Gurgaon office had been detained for questioning.

“She became a victim of threats and false promises,” a senior police officer said, adding that the picture became clear after Kanda’s questioning. With his seven-day remand coming to an end, the police will produce the ex-minister in a Rohini court tomorrow and seek extension of his custody by three to four days. “We will present all evidence before the court tomorrow to seek extension. We are sure that we will get permission for at least three to four days of his remand,” Karunakaran said.

Piecing together information gathered during the questioning of Kanda and key aide Aruna Chadha, the police is understood to have prepared a questionnaire for Ankita, one of Geetika’s colleague who was yesterday asked to join the investigation.

Reports suggested that Ankita, whose name also figured in Geetika’s suicide note, flew to Singapore from Goa to avoid investigation in the case. The questionnaire has been prepared to elicit information from Ankita on her relationship with Geetika and Kanda, and whether Kanda put any sort of pressure on her as well.

Meanwhile, more trouble appears to be brewing for MDLR amid reports that Delhi International Airport Limited was considering issuing a notice to the airline for not clearing dues of Rs 80 lakh on account of parking rent for its aircraft.

(With agency inputs)