Geetika suicide: Ex-Haryana Minister Kanda denied bail by HC

NEW DELHI: Former Haryana Minister Gopal Goyal Kanda, arrested for his alleged role in air hostess Geetika Sharma suicide case, was today denied bail by the Delhi High Court.

Justice Pratibha Rani dismissed Kanda's bail plea after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defence counsel and said she would pass a detailed order later.

Appearing for Kanda, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi argued that several months have passed since his client's arrest on August 18, while the police too has filed the charge sheet in the case and "now my client is entitled to bail."

He also argued that the circumstances of the case show "it is not a case of abetment of suicide but a case of infatuation." He further argued that his client always encouraged the deceased, Geetika, to remain with him but he had no intention to "provoke her to commit suicide."

Opposing Kanda's bail plea, Additional Solicitor General Siddharth Luthra said "we are in the process of further investigation in the case and he, being a politician and an influential person, may influence witnesses in the case."

During the argument, Justice Pratibha Rani also pulled up Kanda's counsel for not approaching the sessions court against denial of bail to him by the trial court.

Kanda had moved the high court on November 1 against the September 20 order of the trial court which had dismissed his bail plea on the ground for need of further probe due to a medical report that the victim was pregnant in March this year.

23-year-old Geetika was found dead on August 5 at her Ashok Vihar residence in North West Delhi. In her August 4 suicide note, Geetika had said she was ending her life due to "harassment" by Kanda and his aide Aruna Chaddah, co-accused in the case. They, however, had denied the charge.