A court here issued a non-bailable warrant against the absconding former Haryana Minister, Gopal Kanda, on Thursday in connection with the suicide of the former flight attendant Geetika Sharma. The court also remanded Mr. Kanda’s associate Aruna Chadha in judicial custody for 14 days after her police custody, last extended on August 12 for three days, came to an end.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate D.K. Jangala said the NBW had to be executed by August 24 while issuing the order.
The verdict on Mr. Kanda’s anticipatory bail plea has been reserved by the Delhi High Court. A similar plea was rejected by a session’s court on August 9.
The police told the court that despite their efforts they have not been able to arrest Mr. Kanda.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kanda remained elusive for the 11th day since Geetika hanged herself naming Mr. Kanda and Ms. Chadha in her suicide note. Geetika had alleged that both had ruined her life and had been threatening her family members.
The police have conducted several raids in search of Mr. Kanda in Haryana and some other parts of the country during the past few days. Bunty, a relative of Mr. Kanda, was taken into custody and questioned on Thursday by the police.
Meanwhile, a BJP delegation led by its Delhi unit president Vijender Gupta called on Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar on Thursday demanding Mr. Kanda’s arrest.
The All-India Democratic Women’s Association is also organising a demonstration outside Haryana Bhavan here on Friday demanding the immediate arrest of Mr. Kanda. Geetika’s parents are expected to join the demonstration.