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Airhostess suicide case: Gopal Kanda gets bail to attend Haryana assembly session

Additional Sessions Judge MC Gupta granted interim bail to Kanda, who has spent over an year in Tihar jail, till October 4 to attend the assembly session beginning on Friday.

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Former Haryana Minister Gopal Kanda, accused in former airhostess Geetika Sharma suicide case, was today granted interim bail by a Delhi court to attend Haryana assembly session on condition that he would furnish a certificate to show his attendance in the House.

Additional Sessions Judge MC Gupta granted interim bail to Kanda, who has spent over an year in Tihar jail, till October 4 to attend the assembly session beginning on Friday.

"Having regard to all the facts and circumstances and for the adequate and sufficient reasons explained that the applicant (Kanda) is the MLA and it being the last session of Vidhan Sabha of Haryana whose term is going to expire in the near future, his attendance in the Vidhan Sabha is required to prepare and put important questions regarding the development of his constituency and to prepare and seek queries regarding the fund allocation and its utilization for his constituency," the court said.

"In these special circumstances, accused is directed to be released on interim bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh and two sureties of like amount," it said.

The court also directed him that "on the date of his surrendering in the court, he shall file certificate regarding his attendance during the session in Vidhan Sabha, Haryana, issued by competent Vidhan Sabha authority." He has been directed to surrender in court on October 4 by 10 AM.

While releasing him on interim bail, the court noted that the arguments of his counsel Kapil Sankhla that it is not disputed by the Delhi Police that he is a sitting MLA from district Sirsa in Haryana nor has it been indicated that he has been disqualified as a member of Haryana assembly. 

The judge also considered the summons from the Haryana Governor and an application received by Kanda from the Law Officer of the Secretary, Haryana Assembly, to participate in the session.

The court also imposed conditions on his release on bail and said "he shall not tamper with the evidence or flee from justice or leave the country without the permission of this court.

The court also directed Kanda not to indulge in any act which may affect the interest of justice and furnish all details of his permanent and present residential and official addresses, mobile numbers and intimate the investigating officer of the case about any changes in them.

Yesterday, the prosecution had vehemently opposed Kanda's plea for interim bail and argued that "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 his tampering with evidence.

On September 2, Kanda's co-accused and his employee Aruna Chadha was granted interim bail till November 15 to attend religious and family events.

Chadha was arrested on August 8 last year while Kanda had surrendered on August 18 last year.

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.

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

They have also been charged with forgery for cheating and harming the reputation of the victim and under the Information Technology Act for sending fake e-mails to the victim.

Geetika 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.

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