Geetika death probe: Ex-Haryana minister 'absconding'

Controversial former Haryana minister Gopal Kanda, accused of abetting the suicide of a former woman employee, on Wednesday went "absconding" as police arrested another woman official of the now-defunct MDLR airline in the case.

The official Aruna Chaddha was taken to custody after questioning by police which had called her for joining the probe while Kanda ignored police summons to him to appear before them after rejection of his request for more time made through his counsel.

"We have arrested Aruna Chaddha. We have charged her with abetment to suicide and criminal conspiracy," P Karunakaran, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-West), told PTI.

Geetika Sharma, 23, a former air hostess with Kanda's MDLR airline, alleged in her suicide note that she was ending her life due to harassment by Kanda and MDLR official Chaddha. Kanda and Chaddha had denied the allegations.

A senior police official said there was not much clarity in the statements made by Chaddha during questioning.

Kanda did not appear before police for questioning in the suicide case of a former airhostess with police saying he is "absconding" and threatened to initiate proceedings to obtain non-bailable warrant against him.

Kanda, who was served with a notice to appear before investigators today, sent his lawyers to Bharat police station seeking "two-three days" time to appear before them but it was not granted, a senior police official said.

Karunakaran said Kanda has not appeared before them. "He is absconding. We will obtain a non-bailable warrant against him if he does not appear before us.

"We have sent the teams to Kanda's residence because he was not joining the investigation," he said, adding already ten people have been questioned.

Chaddha's arrest came after she appeared for questioning during the day while MDLR legal officer Ankit Alhuwalia was quizzed on Tuesday. "Around ten people have been questioned so far," Karunakaran said.

Investigators also questioned Mandeep, an employee of Kanda, in connection with the case after it came to light that the SIM cards used to call Geetika allegedly by Kanda were bought in his name.

"Mandeep was not detained. He just gave information. He is now a witness. We have obtained some documents from MDLR. We have not got the post mortem report," Karunakaran said.

Police had Tuesday slapped a fresh charge of criminal intimidation against Kanda.

Geetika's family demanded a CBI inquiry into the case and wanted the former minister to be arrested soon.