A Delhi court on Tuesday acquitted former Haryana minister Gopal Goyal Kanda and his aide Aruna Chadha in the suicide case of airhostess Geetika Sharma dating back to 2012. Pronouncing the order, the court noted that the the prosecution “failed to prove the charges beyond all reasonable doubts.” The court further directed Kanda and Chadha to submit Rs 1 lakh in personal bond and remain present if the police filed an appeal against his acquittal.
Kanda was facing several charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The charges included Section 306 (abetment of suicide), Section 506 (criminal intimidation), Section 201 (destruction of evidence), Section 120B (criminal conspiracy), and Section 406 (forgery). A trial court initially framed charges under Section 376 (rape) and Section 377 (unnatural sex). However, these charges were later quashed by the Delhi High Court.
The Geetika Sharma suicide case involving Haryana MLA Gopal Kanda has been a long-standing and controversial legal battle. A former air hostess employed with Gopal Kanda's MDLR airlines Geetika Sharma died by suicide in 2012. She left behind a suicide note accusing Gopal Kanda and his associate, Aruna Chadha, of compelling her to end her life.
After years of legal proceedings, Gopal Kanda was acquitted by the Delhi court due to lack of evidence to support the charges.
Here we revisit the case and look at its legal developments:
August 5, 2012: Geetika Sharma's body was discovered hanging at her house. Police found a suicide note in which Geetika Sharma held Gopal Kanda and Aruna Chadha responsible for pushing her to take her own life.
August 7, 2012: An FIR was lodged by Geetika's mother, accusing Gopal Kanda and Chadha of abetment to suicide under Sections 306 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code. Gopal Kanda was arrested in connection with the abetment to suicide case.
August 8, 2012: Aruna Chadha got arrested. Gopal Kanda applied for anticipatory bail. Police announced that Gopal Kanda was absconding.
August 9, 2012: A lookout notice was issued for Gopal Kanda and the police conducted a raid at his house.
August 17, 2012: The court rejected Gopal Kanda's bail application.
August 18, 2012: Gopal Kanda turned himself in at the police station in Delhi's Ashok Vihar.
February 16, 2013: Geetika's mother, Anuradha Sharma, also died by suicide leaving behind a suicide note accusing Gopal Kanda and Chadha of forcing her daughter to take the extreme step.
May 27, 2013: Delhi court dropped the rape charges against Gopal Kanda.
July 2023: Gopal Kanda's name resurfaced when his party, the Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP), mentioned him as one of the constituents of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
July 25, 2023: The Delhi court delivered its verdict, acquitting Gopal Kanda of all charges in the abetment to the suicide case of Geetika Sharma. The court cited a lack of evidence as the reason for the acquittal.
The Geetika Sharma suicide case involving Gopal l Kanda has been a complex and contentious legal battle that lasted for several years. With Gopal Kanda's recent acquittal, the case has once again gained media attention, leaving many to reflect on the tragic events surrounding Geetika's death and the subsequent legal proceedings that followed.
