NEW DELHI, Aug 25:
Former Haryana Minister Gopal Goyal Kanda, key accused in the Geetika Sharma suicide case, was today further remanded to 3-day police custody by a Delhi court to enable the investigators to quiz him for the recovery of crucial evidence, including mobile phones and a hard disc.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate D K Jangala extended the custodial interrogation of Kanda till August 28 after Delhi Police said the recovery of mobile phones and hard disc was needed as they were allegedly used to intimidate her.
Police said custody of an evasive and non-cooperative Kanda was required to trace Geetika’s mobile which she had surrendered after quitting the now-defunct MDLR company and to get complete booklet of his passport to know whether he went to Dubai to force her to resign from Emirates airlines.
“In view of the submission and material on record and also after perusal of the case diary, I am satisfied that an adequate ground exists for grant of police custody of the accused. The recovery of material mentioned by the IO is necessary for the purpose of further investigation.
“Therefore, in the present facts and circumstances three days police custody remand of accused Kanda is granted to effect the recovery of the mobile phones used by the accused for commission of the offence and also to recover the hard disc allegedly removed from the computer system of the accused,” the judge said.
The police said Kanda showed interest in getting Geetika to return to MDLR after she left for Dubai and was pursuing her MBA, which was clear from the fact that he along with his wife had visited victim’s parents to call her back by promising to treat her as their daughter and also offered to fund her MBA.
Despite her parents refusal, he had on his own sponsored her studies, the prosecutor said.
While public prosecutor Rajiv Mohan was making submissions about Kanda’s visit to Geetika’s home regarding her MBA, the court asked when she was already a major, was her parents’ permission necessary.
Replying, he said this aspect shows Kanda’s conduct that he compelled Geetika to join his job.
The prosecutor also said that e-mail sent to Geetika in Dubai regarding extradition proceedings started against her was fictitious.
The MDLR’s employee who had sent the e-mail to Geetika had told the police that the text was provided by Kanda through Aruna Chaddha to him, he said.
Countering the argument of non-cooperation of Kanda, his counsel Ramesh Gupta said, that the MLA from Sirsa has a right to be silent and he cannot be forced to give evidence.
“I (Kanda) have a right of silence. How can they force me to give evidence. This is violation of my fundamental right,” he said.
He also said the police have not brought any new evidence to show that Kanda abetted Geetika’s suicide.
“In police custody they are asking obnoxious questions from me. I have been grilled by DCP, ACP, SHO and other officials but nobody except the IO can question me,” Gupta said.
At this the court directed the Investigating Officer (IO) to mention the name of any other officer/official in the case diary, who interrogates the accused during his remand period.
On August 18, the former Haryana Minister had been sent to seven days police remand by the court, which said his custodial interrogation is necessary for recovery of various materials related to the case.
On the last date of hearing the prosecution, while seeking Kanda’s custody had said that all the circumstances leading to the suicide of victim Geetika can be unearthed only by sustained custodial interrogation of the accused.
Kanda, was arrested in the wee hours of the morning of August 18 after being on the run for 10 days.
On August 16, a magisterial court had issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against the former Haryana minister. The court had asked the police to execute the arrest warrant by August 24.
Earlier, Kanda’s anticipatory bail plea was rejected by a sessions court and the Delhi High Court.
Kanda’s employee, Aruna Chaddha, a senior functionary with now defunct MDLR airlines, arrested on August 8 is in judicial custody in connection with the suicide of 23-year-old air hostess Geetika Sharma, who allegedly took her life on August 5 at her Ashok Vihar residence.
In her suicide note, Geetika had alleged that Kanda and Chaddha were harassing her to rejoin the former minister’s firm after she left the job.
Both Kanda and Chaddha have denied the allegations. (PTI)
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