The Delhi High Court on Monday refused to grant bail to the former Haryana Minister, Gopal Goyal Kanda, facing prosecution in the Geetika Sharma suicide case.
Dismissing his bail application, Justice Pratibha Rani said she would pass a detailed order later. Mr. Kanda had sought regular bail on the ground that investigation had concluded and a charge sheet had been filed by the Delhi Police.
He submitted that there was no need to keep him in judicial custody as the police had wrapped up the investigation. Mr. Kanda submitted that there was no direct evidence against him, and the two suicide notes of the victim found at her residence did not reveal any criminality on his part.
Opposing the bail application, the prosecution submitted that the investigation was still under way as the investigating agency was gathering evidence and recording statements of the witnesses.
It also opposed the plea by citing Mr. Kanda’s past conduct, his clout and the serious nature of charges against him.
The prosecution said two suicide notes left by the victim revealed the culpability of the accused in abetting the victim to commit suicide.
The city police last month chargesheeted him and his employee Aruna Chaddha in the case for allegedly conspiring to intimidate Geetika, which allegedly induced her to commit suicide.
Mr. Kanda had surrendered before the trial court here following rejection of his anticipatory bail application by the High Court. He is in judicial custody since then.
The police chargesheeted the two under Sections 306 (abetment of suicide), 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 506 (criminal intimidation), 201 (destruction of evidence), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery with intention to cheat), 469 (forgery with intention to harm reputation) and 471 (using forged documents as genuine) of the Indian Penal Code.
The former air hostess was found dead on August 5 at her Ashok Vihar residence in North West Delhi. In her suicide notes, 23-year-old Geetika had said she was ending her life due to “harassment” by Mr. Kanda and Mr. Chaddha.
