Ex-Haryana Minister Gopal Kanda’s Matter: Delhi HC Summons Trial Court Records

The Delhi High Court has recently summoned the Trial Court Record in Gopal Kanda’s matter related to abetting the suicide of Anuradha Sharma, who died 6 months after her daughter (Gitika Sharma) died by suicide in August 2012.

The order was passed on an application filed by the State through Additional Public Prosecutor Amit Sahni.

State challenged the decision of Additional Sessions Judge, which had set aside an order of a magisterial court summoning former Haryana minister Gopal Kanda and his aide, Aruna Chaddha.

Police had filed a Closure Report in the matter, which was rejected by the magisterial court and took cognizance of IPC sections 306 and 34 and summoned the accused.

Earlier, the matter was listed before Justice DK Sharma in August 2023, who posted the matter for hearing on October 30, 2023.

Additional Public Prosecutor Amit Sahni moved an application on behalf of the State for summoning Trial Court Record. Sahni argued that the Trial Court Record is quite essential for the adjudication of petition.

Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma allowed the application on behalf of the state on October 12, 2023 and directed that the Trial Court Record in digitized form be summoned for the date already fixed for October 31.

Earlier in February 2013, Anuradha Sharma was found hanging from the same fan in the same room at her Ashok Vihar residence as her daughter.

However, in a suicide note, the 52-year-old government employee accused former Haryana minister Gopal Goyal Kanda and his close aide Aruna Chadha of forcing her and her daughter to take the extreme step.

Recently on July 25, 2023, Delhi court while acquitted Former Haryana Minister Gopal Goyal Kanda and one other in air hostess Geetika Sharma suicide case, said the possibility of deceased Geetika Sharma committing suicide due to other reasons also can’t be ruled out.

The court noted that prosecution has failed to prove offence under Section 306 (Abetment of suicide) read with 120-B IPC that accused persons pursuant to criminal conspiracy, created such circumstances, due to which deceased Geetika Sharma had no option but to commit suicide and the possibility of deceased Geetika Sharma committing suicide due to other reasons, as discussed hereinabove also can’t be ruled out.

Geetika (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.

Also, a suicide note was found naming accused Gopal Goyal and co-accused Aruna Chadha as the persons responsible for her death. She had said she was ending her life due to “harassment” by Kanda and Chadha.

Later, Kanda was forced to resign from his post of minister of state for home in Haryana following the registration of the case.