A Delhi court has acquitted former Haryana Minister Gopal Goyal Kanda in air hostess Geetika Sharma's suicide case. Geetika, a former air hostess, who was earlier employed with Kanda's MDLR airlines, was found dead on August 5, 2012, at her Ashok Vihar residence in North West Delhi.




"There was no evidence against me, this case was made against me and today the court has given its verdict," Kanda said after his acquittal.


Special Judge Vikas Dhull also acquitted co-accused Aruna Chadha in the case, saying the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond all reasonable doubts, news agency PTI reported. The accused were facing charges under various sections, including 306 (abetment of suicide), 506 (criminal intimidation), 201 (destruction of evidence), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 466 (forgery).


The trial court had also framed charges of rape (376) and 377 (unnatural sex) against Kanda. The Delhi High Court, however, later quashed the charges under 376 and 377 of the IPC.


Sharma, who was earlier employed with Kanda's MLDR airlines, was found dead on August 5, 2012 at her Ashok Vihar residence in North West Delhi, the news report said. In her August 4 suicide note, Sharma had said she was ending her life due to “harassment” by Kanda and Chadha.


During Sharma's stint with the airlines, she was promoted as a director of one of Kanda's companies in three years of her joining as a trainee. After the registration of the case, Kanda was asked to resign as minister, news agency IANS reported.


He had started MDLR Airlines from Gurugram in 2008, however, after being trapped in the controversies, the airlines ceased operations in 2009.