Abetment to suicide and other charges framed against Kanda

A Delhi court today framed charges of abetment of suicide and conspiracy against former Haryana Home Minister Gopal Kanda and paved the way for his trial in the ex-air hostess Geetika Sharma suicide case.
Along with 46-year-old Kanda, his close aide and employee Aruna Chadha, 40, will also face trial for similar charges.
The court also on its own framed charges under section 376 (rape) and 377 (unnatural sex) of IPC against Kanda.
Chadha was also charged under section 376 and section 109 (abetting of commission of offence) IPC.
The charges of rape, unnatural sex and its abetment were framed against Kanda and Chadha by the court on the basis of material on record even though the police had not booked them under these penal provisions.

They have also been charged with offence of forgery with intention to cheat and harm the reputation of the victim.

"I hold that prima facie charges under sections 306 (abetment of suicide), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 468 (forgery with intention to cheat), 469 (forgery with intention to harm reputation), 466 (forgery of record of public register) and 471 (using forged documents as genuine) are made out against Gopal Kanda and Aruna Chadha," District Judge S K Sarvaria said.
After framing charges, the district judge sent the matter for trial before the fast track court dealing with sexual offence cases. The court has fixed the matter for May 27 for recording of prosecution evidence.

Geetika, a former air hostess, who was earlier employed with Kanda's MDLR airlines, was found dead on August 5 at her Ashok Vihar residence in North West Delhi. In her August 4 suicide note, she had said she was ending her life due to "harassment" by Kanda and Chadha.
Kanda was forced to resign from his post of minister of state for home in Haryana following the registration of the case.