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Former Haryana Minister Gopal Kanda, who surrendered before the Delhi Police earlier this morning in connection with Geetika Sharma suicide case, has been sent to seven days in police custody by a trial court here on Saturday. He has been charged with abetment to suicide, criminal intimidation, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence. The charge of abetting suicide under section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Delhi Police, which arrested Kanda outside the Ashok Vihar Police Station at around 4 a.m. today, produced him in a trial court in Rohini. Earlier in the day, Kanda was taken to the Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital here for a medical checkup. Geetika Sharma's brother Ankit had accused the Congress Government in Haryana of shielding Kanda, and demanded an unbiased probe into the case. Ankit termed Kanda's surrender before the Delhi Police to be mere drama. He also demanded that the investigation now should be recorded on live camera so that Kanda does not change his statement later. The Delhi High Court earlier on Friday dismissed Kanda's anticipatory bail plea. Kanda had approached the High Court after the lower court had dismissed his bail plea. A Delhi Court had earlier on Thursday issued a Non Bailable Warrant (NBW) against Kanda in connection with the case. Delhi Police had earlier this week conducted fresh raids at Kanda residence. Kanda had gone into hiding ever since a case was lodged against him and his aide Aruna Chaddha. Kanda and Chaddha were named in the suicide note of Geetika, who took her life on August 5, alleging that they had harassed her and ruined her life. 23-year-old Geetika was found hanging in her flat in North West Delhi. Chaddha was arrested on August 8 after being called in for questioning by the police, while Kanda ignored police summons to him to appear before them after rejection of his request for more time made through his counsel. Geetika Sharma, a former airhostess with Kanda's MDLR Airline, had alleged in her suicide note that she was ending her life due to harassment by Kanda and MDLR official Chaddha. Kanda and Chaddha have, however, denied the allegations so far.

Gopal Kanda sent to seven-day police remand