Hr Minister resigns after being booked for abetting suicide

Gurgaon, Aug 5: Hours after being booked by Delhi Police for abetting the suicide of a former

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Minister Gopal Kanda resigned from the government, saying he was taking the step to ensure an "impartial" probe.

"I have tendered my resignation and requested Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda to accept it. I have resigned to ensure an impartial probe. I have full faith in the law of the land. I am confident that I will come out clean after investigations are held," the Independent MLA told reporters at his residence here.

Kanda, 46, denied having any direct links with the victim Geetika Sharma. Kanda, who was minister of state for Home, Urban Bodies and Industry and Commerce, said that he has resigned from all departments. He said that he was waiting for the Chief Minister to return from Kolkata and had immediately forwarded his resignation upon his return to Delhi late this evening.

Kanda landed in trouble as Delhi Police registered a case of abetment to suicide against him after a former woman employee of his now defunct airline MDLR allegedly took her life accusing harassment by him.

23-year-old former air hostess Geetika Sharma, who quit Kanda's company recently, took the extreme step at her Ashok Vihar residence in north-west Delhi residence, apparently depressed over continuing mental harassment allegedly by the minister.

PTI