Kanda does not appear for questioning

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

Geetika Sharma (23), a former air hostess with Kanda's now defunct MDLR airline, alleged in her suicide note that she was ending her life due to harassment by Kanda and MDLR official Aruna Chaddha.

Kanda and Chaddha had denied the allegations. Kanda, who was served with a notice to appear before investigators on Wednesday, 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.

P. Karunakaran, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-West), 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.

Police also questioned Chaddha during the day while MDLR legal officer Ankit Alhuwalia was quizzed on Tuesday.

"Around ten people have been questioned so far," Karunakaran said.

He said there was no much clarity in the statement given by Chaddha.
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 on 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.