Fresh raids at Kanda's residence, ex-minister yet to be traced

Sirsa/New Delhi, Aug 16: Delhi Police conducted fresh raids at the residence of former Haryana Minister Gopal Kanda, who is accused of abetting the

of former air hostess Geetika Sharma, even as he evaded police for another day.

Investigators went to Kanda's residence in Sirsa late night and conducted raids but the former minister could not be traced. They picked up one of Kanda's relatives for questioning, sources said.

Investigators have conducted searches and raids in around 50 places and questioned over 25 people but they were unable to trace Kanda, the owner of erstwhile MDLR Airline where 23-year-old Sharma was working. Kanda was served with a notice to join investigations last Wednesday but the former Minister had gone underground with police declaring him an "absconder" while his employee Aruna Chaddha was arrested.

Kanda and Chaddha were named in the suicide note of Geetika, who took her life on Aug 5, alleging that they had harassed her and ruined her life. Both Kanda and Chaddha denied the allegations.

The former minister had moved a local court and then Delhi High Court seeking anticipatory bail. While local court denied it, the High Court has reserved the order. Police have told the High Court that they "already have enough evidence" against Kanda and required his custodial interrogation for a deeper probe.

Kanda's lawyer has argued that prima facie, no case is made out against his client on the basis of the FIR and the suicide note. "The suicide note cannot be treated as the gospel truth and the same has to be proved by independent evidence," he had said.

PTI