M A I N   N E W S

Geetika’s mother feared for son’s life
Shaurya Karanbir Gurung/TNS

New Delhi, February 17
Ankit, son of Anuradha Sharma who committed suicide on February 15 six months after her daughter Geetika too ended her life at their Ashok Vihar residence, says his mother feared for his life, and that her fears grew further after he received several blank calls.

The mother-daughter suicide cases are closely linked to former Haryana minister and Sirsa MLA Gopal Kanda, the owner of the now defunct MDLR Airline. The police has charged Kanda and his associate Aruna Chadha with abetting the two suicides. The two accused are currently in judicial custody. Geetika worked as an air hostess in Kanda’s airline.

Ankit, in his twenties, told The Tribune that his mother was worried about the family, especially him, after Geetika’s death. “Some days she would ask me not go to office and stay at home. She would sometime call up to ask my whereabouts. I would send her a smiley. She would tell me to always keep my photo and identity card in my wallet,” he said.

Anuradha’s suicide note reveals her fears about Ankit. He said her fears grew even more serious since he began receiving blank calls on his mobile phone. His mother had begun noting down the numbers on a “case diary”, which she maintained after Geetika’s death.

Ankit said his mother was actively involved in fighting Geetika’s case. “Every night she would read the chargesheet and mark important points. She told me she would accompany me for the next hearing on February 22 and see them (Kanda and Chadha) being humiliated. In the last hearing, my mother had shouted at them in the courtroom,” said Ankit.

Her suicide note wanted him to be “strong” and fight the case till its completion. “My mother wrote that it was difficult for her to live without Geetika,” he said.

Ankit says his mother was a strong woman and not someone who would take her life, “I do not know what made her to take this extreme step”.

Since his sister’s death, the family followed a routine that they always had. Ankit said that his mother did all the household chores, went to her office at the Ministry of Finance where she worked in the accounts department, and came home to spend time with her family.