New Delhi, February 16
The Delhi Police today registered a fresh case against Haryana’s former minister of state Gopal Kanda and his associate Aruna Chadha over suicide committed by former MDLR airhostess Geetika Sharma’s mother Anuradha. The two have been charged with abetting suicide.

Anuradha had yesterday hanged herself at her New Ashok Nagar residence in Delhi and left behind a two-page suicide note naming Kanda and Chadha. On August 5, Geetika Sharma had also committed suicide, leaving behind a suicide note accusing Kanda of “harassment”.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (northwest) P Karunakaran said: “In the two-page suicide note recovered from the room where Geetika had also ended her life, Anuradha said she had been under depression ever since her daughter’s death. She blamed Kanda and Chadha for Geetika’s death. Anuradha had been unable to shake off the pain of losing her daughter. The note’s second page was dedicated to her son Ankit, explaining the reasons behind taking the extreme step and asking him to stay strong.”

“A case has been registered under Sections 306 (abetment to suicide) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code against Gopal Kanda and Aruna Sharma. Both have been named by Anuradha in her suicide note. Investigations are on in the case.” he added.

Police sources said Ankit used to call Anuradha out for lunch to help her fight depression. Yesterday, she refused to join him and went home after work, before committing suicide.

Aware of Anuradha’s condition, her family members had been trying not to leave her alone. Even Anuradha had expressed a similar desire.

Mother of 23-year-old Geetika, Anuradha worked with the Finance Ministry. Her body was found hanging by her sister-in-law Jyoti last evening.

The postmortem was conducted at the Babu Jagjeevan Ram Memorial Hospital today and the body was cremated at Punjabi Bagh later in the afternoon.

The police said the family had so far not reported any duress from Kanda to withdraw the case.