Kanda gets bail in air hostess suicide case

A court here Tuesday granted bail to former Haryana minister Gopal Goyal Kanda, who was in jail for the past 18 months after being accused of abetting the suicide of a former air hostess.

Additional Sessions Judge Yashwant Kumar allowed the bail application. The court granted Kanda relief after observing that he was in judicial custody since August 2012.

The court directed Kanda to furnish a personal bond of Rs.5 lakh and two sureties of the like amount.

Requesting the court to grant him bail, Kanda's counsel Kapil Sankhla said the former minister has been in judicial custody for the last 18 months and the charge of sexual exploitation against him was dropped by the Delhi High Court.

Counsel added that Kanda's earlier bail pleas were rejected because of the serious charge of sexual exploitation against him, and that Kanda was entitled for bail now.

The court accepted the submission made by Kanda's counsel.

The court agreed with the submission made by advocate Sankhla that Kanda has not misused his liberty when he was granted one-month interim bail in September 2013.

Sankhla told IANS that Kanda neither tried to tamper with evidence nor had he made any attempt to influence witnesses while he was out on bail to attend the state assembly session.

The court also took into account Kanda's conduct during judicial custody while releasing him on bail, he added.

Delhi Police opposed the bail plea, saying the former minister could influence witnesses if he is released on bail.

Kanda and his aide Aruna Chadha are accused of abetting the Aug 4-5, 2012, suicide of a 23-year-old former air hostess who left behind a note accusing the duo of harassing her.

Chadha and Kanda have been charged with abetting suicide, criminal conspiracy, forgery and hacking computers and sending offensive or false messages.

The Delhi High Court Feb 10 had granted regular bail to Chadha.