Delhi Court Acquits Former Haryana MLA Gopal Kanda In Air Hostess Geetika Sharma's Suicide Case

Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday acquitted former Haryana Minister Gopal Goyal Kanda in air hostess Geetika Sharma suicide case.

Geetika, a former air hostess, who was earlier employed with Kanda's MDLR airlines, was found dead on August 5, 2012 at her Ashok Vihar residence in North West Delhi.

In 2012, Gopal Goyal Kanda was arrested on allegations of abetting the suicide of Geetika Sharma.

Initially, he was also accused of rape, but this charge was dropped after he was granted bail by the Delhi High Court in 2014 in the abetment to suicide case.

Gopal Kanda held significant political power in Haryana and served as the state's home minister in the Congress government led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda. He also managed portfolios related to urban bodies, industry, and commerce.

Who was Geetika Sharma?

Geetika Sharma, on the other hand, was an employee of Gopal Kanda's aviation firm, MDLR Airlines. She worked as an air hostess and later became a director at one of Kanda's corporate offices in Gurgaon. On August 5, 2012, Geetika Sharma tragically hung herself from a ceiling fan at her father's residence in Ashok Vihar, northwest Delhi.

In her two-page suicide note, Geetika Sharma expressed that she was taking her life due to alleged "harassment" by Gopal Kanda and one of his employees, Aruna Chadha, who was arrested on August 8.

Gopal Kanda vehemently denied the accusations but was booked by the Delhi Police in the case. He is currently out on bail.

Tragically, six months later, Geetika Sharma's mother also reportedly committed suicide, and once again, Gopal Kanda was accused of abetment to suicide.

Following the controversy, Gopal Kanda resigned from his position. The BJP, then in the Opposition in Haryana, led protests against Gopal Kanda, demanding his arrest.