Gopal Kanda seeks interim bail to attend assembly session

NEW DELHI: Former Haryana Minister Gopal Kanda, an accused in a former airhostess suicide case, today sought interim bail from a Delhi court contending that he would attend state assembly session and discharge his obligation towards his constituency.

Additional Sessions Judge M C Gupta reserved his order on Kanda's plea after hearing arguments from his counsel and the prosecution.

The Delhi Police also moved an application for reducing the period of interim bail granted to Kanda's co-accused Aruna Chadha.

Aruna was granted interim bail till November 11 on Monday for attending religious and family events.

Earlier during the arguments, Kanda's counsel senior advocate Ramesh Gupta said "he (Kanda) is an MLA from Haryana and he wants to attend the assembly session for which he is seeking interim bail.

"He is an MLA from Sirsa which is a big constituency. He has to perform many obligations and welfare activities for his people. Funds for his constituency are lying unutiliszed. Public is suffering, in the end."

The counsel also said Kanda has been in custody for over 14 months now and the police investigation is complete and there is nothing left for the police to apprehend that he might hamper the case.

Additional Public Prosecutor Rajiv Mohan opposed his plea for interim bail saying "there is reasonable apprehension of his tampering with the evidence."

"In February 2013, there was a session of Haryana assembly. When Kanda did not feel the need to seek bail for attending it, why is he seeking interim bail for this session? There is reasonable apprehension of him tampering with the evidence."

The prosecutor also submitted "eight prosecution witnesses have been examined. Many prosecution witnesses are current and former employees of Kanda."

He added Chanshivroop, one of Kanda's employees, had desired to turn approver but absconded after he was contacted by people associated with the accused.

Chadha and Kanda were arrested on August 8 last year and August 18 last year respectively.

The trial in the case began on May 27 when the court recorded the statements of eight witnesses, including police personnel and also the doctor who had conducted the postmortem of the victim.

Chadha and Kanda are accused of abetting the suicide of 23-year-old former air hostess who was earlier employed in Kanda's MDLR airlines.

Both the accused have also been charged with forgery for cheating and harming the reputation of the victim.

The air hostess was found dead on August 5, 2012 at her Ashok Vihar residence in North West Delhi. In her suicide note, she had said she was ending her life due to "harassment" by Kanda and Chadha.

The police had in its charge sheet said Kanda was obsessed with the victim and was putting pressure on her to come back to his company.